Category: Devotional

Friday

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me.”

~Psalm 34:4a~

My family is very much in need of prayers in reguards to my husbands health and our finances everything always seems to come at us at once
Please Pray for us…
Thank You
Lori Singleton

Please continue to pray for Mr.Henry Harrison. Pray for “Miss” Emma, his wife and caregiver too.

Pray for Mr. Bully Schwartz, one of the oldest members of our church.

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd
(July 6, 1946 – April 16, 2008)

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd was released to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the age of 61. She was the adored wife of James Ora Todd for over 40 years. She was the loving mother of James Madison Todd and his wife, Dana Todd, Huntersville, NC and grandmother of Joshua Todd and Noah Todd. She was the sister of Carol Beyerback, Kenner and Fred Westmoreland, Alexandria and the late Terri Giglio and Mary Brown. She was the daughter of the late Carol Vidross and Fred Westmoreland. A strong woman of faith whose purpose was to see the message of Christ spread throughout the world. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to be held at First Baptist Church of Arcola on the evening of Friday, April 18, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and after 8:00AM until funeral services at 10:00AM on Saturday, April 19, 2008 conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment will follow in First Baptist Church of Arcola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Susan wished donations to be made to Baptist Missionary Bibles for distribution.

Ellis Sharpe, Sr.
(May 15, 1929 – April 16, 2008)

Died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Ocshner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a native and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 79 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Mitch Williams. Interment Durbin Cemetery, Independence, LA. He is survived by his 4 daughters, Cheryl Boudreaux and husband, Larry, Denham Springs, Glenda Sharpe, Denham Springs, Aimie Morehead, Hawaii and Regina Pruitt, Colorado; 2 sons, Ellis Sharpe, Jr. and wife, Marcy, Denham Springs and Roger Sharpe and wife, Ima Jean, Ponchatoula; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearlie Rodriguez Sharpe; daughter, Faye Marie Sharpe; parents, Esco and Lillie Rainey Sharpe; brother, Joseph Sharpe; sister, Gertrude Rumfola.

William C. Peterson
(August 3, 1933 – April 16, 2008)

Mr. William C. Peterson died at his residence in Independence, La. at 8:09 AM on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. He was 74 years old, a native of Lorraine, Texas and a resident of Independence, La. Visitation at McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home on Friday April 18, 2008 from 1:00PM until 3:00PM. The family will have Religious Services and Graveside Services on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the Green Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He is survived by his first wife Tish Fruge’, Gonzales, La., 3 Daughters; Vicki Lentz, Independence, Rhea Sawyer, St. Amant, Diana Peterson, Tulsa, Ok., Son; Lee Peterson, Greenville, S.C., Stepson; Lynn Flurry, Baton Rouge, Sister; Ann Nelson, Kellyville, OK., 8 Grandchildren; Amanda, Shelby, Brittney, Jenny, Corey, Brady, P.J., Allison, 5 Great-Grandchildren; Gage, Bryson, Hayden, Caden, Ryan. He was a member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union for 20+ years. Preceded in death by; Parents; H.C. and Willie Mae Peterson, 2nd Wife; Libby Flurry Peterson, 2 Sisters; Helen Garner, Frances Holmes and 1 Son; Ashley Durand Hudson.

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

April 18, 2008

“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

“WORDLESS BOOK”

A 12-year-old boy in Colombia has been hospitalized with a chronic sickness. It is so bad that he needs surgery to get well. Before he went to the hospital, this little boy and his family went to the New Paradise Baptist Church; and the people of the church prayed for him to get well. A missionary met the little boy that day and saw that he was very sick. She encouraged his mom and dad to take him to the hospital. The missionary visited the 12-year-old in his hospital room and told him about Jesus by using the “wordless book.” **

The 12-year-old boy asked Jesus into his heart right then. Both of his parents have also asked Jesus to be their Savior. Please pray for this young boy that he will have the surgery he needs and get better soon. Ask God to help him and his parents to grow in what they understand about Jesus as they read the Bible and pray.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray that I can find new friends in my new neighborhood. JACK, age 10 (South Asia)

My best friend is Liza. She plays with me when there’s nobody to play outside. I go over to her house to play too. Lots of times we chase goats and piggies. Animals aren’t kept in cages or anything here, people just let them go wherever they want. At nighttime, people bring them back home. Liza’s mom’s pig just had four babies. Please pray that she can sell the baby pigs to get money for their family. MELODY, age 7 (West Africa)

Please ask God to help my friends and all the other people in the world to believe in God. KM, age 8 (East Asia)

Please pray for my friend, MK. I shared the gospel with her and she pretty much rejected everything I said. I know she wasn’t rejecting me but was rejecting Jesus. Please pray that God will keep working in her heart and that she will see the truth about Christianity. Pray for me to continue to be bold in sharing my faith with her and everyone else I happen to meet. ASHLEY, age 13 (Pacific Rim)

Several times each week, I go with my mom and dad to visit our Hausa friends. My friends and I like to play soccer and play in the sand. My friends have never heard that Jesus loves them. My mom and I sing with them and share Bible stories. My friends like to color a lot, so I share my crayons and we color pictures about the Bible stories. Please pray for my mom and dad as they share Bible stories with our friends. Please pray that my Hausa friends will come to know Jesus. Please pray that my friends will see what a difference God’s love can make. (My mommy wrote this…I don’t know how to write yet.) NOAH, age 2 (West Africa)

** HOW TO MAKE A WORDLESS BOOK

Has anyone every shown you the wordless book? I made one in Vacation Bible School when I was a little girl-that was a long time ago. Even before I was a little girl, a man named C. H. Spurgeon preached a sermon nearly 100 years ago and told the story of the wordless book. I don’t know how old it really is.

It’s pretty easy to make one yourself. Find some colored paper-one piece in gold, black, red, white and green. With the help of an adult, cut the paper just the right size-maybe you want a tiny book, so cut the paper 2 ½ x 5 inches; or for a bigger book, cut a regular 8 ½ x 11 inch page in half. Fold each piece in half so you have 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch squares or 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inch booklets. Tape or glue the pieces of paper together (gold to black, black to red, red to white, white to green) so that when you open it the gold is the first full page, black is the second, red third, white fourth, and green is the last page. You can make any kind of cover you would like. Me? I like the idea of a pretty purple cover-that just makes me think of Jesus, our Savior and King.

The story of the wordless book is the same as the evangelistic bracelets many Christians wear. The gold (or yellow) stands for God’s heavenly home, the black for the sin of our hearts that keep us separated from God. The red page reminds us that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead; and if we accept Jesus as Savior, He will make us clean. Yes, that’s the white page-You and me, knowing Jesus, and being forgiven and cleaned from all our sin! Finally, the green page helps us understand how important it is to grow. We want to learn more about Jesus so we need to read the Bible and pray every day. That’s how we grow!

I hope you have time to make a wordless book this week and I am praying you will share the story with your friends.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


THE BUILDERS OF the Titanic were remiss in several areas and doomed the mighty vessel to the bottom of the ocean…

Their failures mimic our steps to apostasy. Their lessons are ours as we discover how Christians leave the Lord (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-31).

First, their pride doomed the ship because they failed to develop contingency plans since they falsely believed it was unsinkable. We face equal peril when we believe we are immune from apostasy.

Second, the self-righteous pride of the owners of the Titanic led them to seek the minimum in safety standards. They did the least or less in every area of safety. Their malfeasance had no justification.

Five decades before the construction of the Titanic, the Great Eastern had scraped on an uncharted rock off the coast of Long Island. It had torn a hole in her skin nine feet wide and 83 feet long. However, she had an inner hull and was able to limp into port. No one was hurt. Inner hulls became more popular but the builders of the Titanic apparently saw it as unnecessary.

They cut many other safety standards. The most famous were the lifeboats. Regulations called for a ship of Titanic’s size to carry enough lifeboats for 962 even though she could carry over 3,500 passengers and crew. They should have been prepared to offer everyone a seat on the lifeboats.

“The owners and operators of steamships had for five decades taken larger and larger risks to save money – risks to which they had methodically blinded themselves.” 1/ This carelessness exacted a heavy price.

Do we trim or skirt safety standards in our Christian lives? Do we try to get by on the minimum? People do this without realizing it.

We reason there is a minimum that we can do and be pleasing to God. We rationalize that attending Sunday morning services and living a moral life are enough. While everyone else are just “super Christians,” they are just fine with what they are doing. Their delusion is disheartening.

The army that seeks the minimum in arming its soldiers will soon find their enemy raining the maximum in destruction upon them. The soldier who fails to properly arm himself because the gear is too heavy, faces grave danger in the battle. Good soldiers are very careful not to cut corners in their battle preparation because they know their lives depend on it.

Discipleship is not about maximums and minimums. Salvation is not meritorious. /2 We require the blood of Christ on our souls in order to be justified before God (Romans 5). We must “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7, NKJV). We are commanded to walk worthy of the “calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Trying to find a minimum, we seek salvation by works, rather than by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not about attaining the minimum we can accomplish, it is about finding a way to do all we can for Christ (Matthew 22:37).

We cannot attend enough worship services, read our Bibles enough or be moral enough to merit salvation. However, seeking the minimum in the Christian life illustrates that we have little interest in Christ being the Lord of our lives. We can easily slip into the mindset that we want to be a Christian but that we do not want it to change our lives. However, if Christ is not on the throne of our hearts, Satan will fill the vacuum (1 Peter 5:8).

“Disinterested Christians reach the point where they are no longer bearing fruit and will be cut off from the vine (John 15:1-8). Faithfulness indicates allegiance, attitude, and direction in a life filled and flooded with God (Ephesians 3:19). Unfaithfulness leads to apostasy.” /3

Let us seek the maximum for Christ because he deserves it. (Richard Mansel)

1/ http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~branderr/risk_essay/titanic.html
2/ http://tinyurl.com/yrtthj
3/ http://tinyurl.com/3m69ow


“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away,to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).

Thanks for your prayers for others each day. You mean so much to so many!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“O sing to the LORD a new song,

for He has done wonderful things….

He has revealed His righteousness

in the sight of the nations.”

~Psalm 98:1a-2, NASB~

Prayer Request from Romania

Dear Prayer Partners,

Please be in prayer Friday (10:00 AM Romanian time/3:00 AM US Eastern Time) as Ron and the national pastor visit the mayor of Valeni regarding the water well. Please pray for wisdom, discernment and that the heart of the mayor will open and his perspective will be made clear.

As always, we appreciate your faithfulness to pray.

Kept by Him, Ron and Charlotte

Team Romania

http://www.imbromania.ro

Special Announcements

  • Share Group – 6:30 tonight at the Alford cabin (food, fellowship, & devotion)
  • On Mission Celebration – FBC, Amite, Saturday at 4:30 P.M.
  • On Mission in Kentwood – 8:00 Saturda, April 26
  • Nursery Volunteers of 4-20-08 – Gail Brister, Sharon Martin, & Walter and Kathy Dykes
  • Senior Adult Trip to Tanger Mall and Cabelas in Gonzales, Tuesday, April 22, Leave FBC at 8:30 A.M.

RESTRICTED AREA

Suppose we raised our children with guidelines patterned after the Old Testament law. Instructions regarding where they can eat and where they can’t might sound something like this:

Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and
of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but
not in the living room.

Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may
eat, but not in the living room.

Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat,
but not in the living room.

Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the
oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and
unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room.

Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in
sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither
may you carry such therein.

Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet
begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither
may you drink. But if you are sick, and are lying down and
watching something, then may you eat in the living room.

When I was a child, the rule may not have been worded quite that way, but the principle was surely in place. There were places where I was forbidden to go except in extreme or unusual circumstances.

The Jews of the Old Testament were in a similar situation. There was a place forbidden to them — that special room in the tabernacle and later the temple called the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies. It represented the very presence of God and the punishment for entering was nothing short of death. The only exception took place on the Day of Atonement when the high priest alone entered — and then only after the room was filled with the smoke of incense.

One of the things Jesus did for us on the cross was to open our access into God’s presence. Have you considered the significance of the tearing of the veil in the temple when Jesus was on the cross (Matt. 27:51)? What once was forbidden has now been made available!

“…[W]e have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NIV)

You may still be restricted from eating in the living room, but going into the presence of God is now a possibility!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Wednesday

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE LION WAS proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom…

One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he bypassed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear. “Who is the king of the jungle?” the lion asked. The bear replied, “Why, you are, of course.” The lion gave a mighty roar of approval.

Next he asked the tiger, “Who is the king of the jungle?” The tiger quickly responded, “Everyone knows that you are, O mighty lion.”

Next on the list was the elephant. The lion faced the elephant and addressed his question: “Who is the king of the jungle?” The elephant immediately grabbed the lion with his trunk, whirled him around in the air five or six times, and slammed him into a tree. Then he pounded him onto the ground several times, dunked him under water in a nearby lake, and finally threw him up on the shore. The lion–beaten, bruised, and battered–struggled to his feet. He looked at the elephant through sad and bloody eyes and said, “Look, just because you don’t know the answer is no reason for you to get mean about it!” (Gerald Flury)

“Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

~Prov. 16:18~

Tuesday

“Blessed be the Lord,

because He has heard the voice of my supplications!”

~Psalm 28:6~

 

Thank God for:

  • His Son who provided salvation for us
  • Life
  • Health
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Jobs (past, present, and future)
  • Changes of the weather
  • Etc.

 

 

 

Pray for:

  • Those who are lost
  • Those who are grieving
  • Those who are away from families
  • Those who are undergoing medical tests/treatment
  • Homebound
  • Caregivers
  • Military
  • Government leaders
  • Graduating seniors (college and high school)
  • Church staff
  • Missionaries

 

 

 

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. The father of a Muslim family who has befriended some young international Christians recently left on what he called a “spiritual journey.” This journey is part of a Muslim missionary movement that began several decades ago. He will travel for a season to preach and encourage Muslims to be more devout in their practices. The Christians are wondering if his journey is a result of questions that have come up because of the presence of Christians in his life. Is he searching for truth and grasping tightly to the only thing he knows as truth, or is he planting his feet and standing firmly in resistance against the Truth he has heard? Please pray fervently that his experiences on his spiritual journey will demolish his tight grip on false teachings and cause him to search for truth in Jesus Christ. Pray for the Christians as they continue to share Bible stories with the family each week. Ask God to enable the entire family to understand that Jesus is the only one who can present us faultless before the throne of grace. Pray for them to place their faith in Him alone! http://btw.imb.org/

 

 

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

One year ago, people around the world were stunned by a shooting rampage that left 32 victims dead on the campus of Virginia Tech University…

In the aftermath, the mother of one critically wounded student who survived said she did not want the ordeal to become the defining moment in her son’s life. Instead, she hoped it could be “something positive, some great celebration of his life.”

When the unthinkable happens, it may seem impossible to believe that anything can overcome the emotional scars. Yet, the life of Joseph offers a powerful illustration of God’s transforming power (Gen. 37-50). The brothers who sold him into slavery were sure he would take revenge on them (50:15-17). But Joseph told them, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (v.20).

When we place our desire for revenge in God’s hands, we become participants in the remarkable process described by Paul: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).

The defining moments of our lives are not determined by the evil done to us, but by our response such events. (David C. McCasland)


“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).


I hope this devotional speaks to some of you today. I know these verses have helped me through difficult times.

Anna Lee

 

Monday

“Youths may faint and grow weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

but those who trust in the LORD

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint,”

~Isaiah 40:30-31, HCSB~

Curt Martin will be having another test to check the blood clot in his leg. Pray for it to be healed. Pray for Curt to have be able to stay off of it as long as necessary.

Be in prayer for the many grieving families in the Kentwood area.

From the International Mission Board:

A retired pastor walks the mountainous countryside for hours each day. He stops at homes and along the way to tell everyone he meets the good news of Jesus. Last year he made 2,640 visits, all on foot, to share the Gospel. That is an average of 220 visits per month, and about seven visits per day-and he is 88 years old! “Pray that the Lord will lengthen my life, to be able to keep working in the Lord’s service,” he asks.

(Does that testimony make you feel like you are coming up short? It certainly does me!)

Since Easter, the Baptists on this island nation have been asking God to enable them to reach 1 million of their people in the next three years, and to start many churches for His glory. If the passion for prayer does not surprise you, perhaps the location will. This pastor walks the rugged roads of Cuba.

“Pray that Cuba might be won to Christ,” he pleads. As Cuban Baptists are in the midst of the “50 Days of Prayer for Cuba” emphasis, please ask the Lord for 1 million Cubans to come to Christ, and for a church to be started within walking distance of each one during the next three years. Pray for others, like this retired pastor, who daily share their faith with those in Cuba who do not know Jesus.

* Please pray that God will pour out the power of the Holy Spirit on Cuban Christians, giving them daily strength and joy in their labor of prayer.

* Ask God to give them love and compassion for the lost so they will personally share the Gospel.

* Join this 88-year-old pastor in praying “that Cuba and the whole world might be won to Christ.”

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE BLOG TITLE read, “Moron turns in $140,000.00…”

What this title has reference to is the news story that broke last month. Eli Estrada, a 40 year-old Palm Beach resident found a bag containing $140,000.00 in unmarked $20.00 bills.

Mr. Estrada certainly could have used the money. About six months ago, he opened a landscaping and artificial-grass business and is in debt; he says his child support payments are tough to make; and he supports his mother, who moved in with him last year after she lost her house to a fumbled refinancing plan. Yet, Mr. Estrada went straight to the police and turned in all $140,000.00.

Apparently a Brinks armored truck somehow lost the money. Brinks rewarded Mr. Estrada for his good deed by giving him $2,000.00.

So now, was Mr. Estrada a really a “moron?” Only if one views such values as honesty, integrity, and the “golden rule” as foolish. But what about the cheap reward that was offered? Some on this blog said that if they knew the reward for turning in the money would have been so small, they would have kept it. But do we have to be financially rewarded for doing the right thing? Are our values so degraded that we feel we deserve a “reward” for doing what we’re supposed to do?

A moron? Hardly. Here’s a man who has demonstrated that he sufficient intelligence to know that some things are more valuable than money…things like integrity, honesty, and doing the right thing. Thank you, Mr. Estrada, for your example. May your tribe increase!

Now then, truthfully, what would you do if you found them money? Give it some thought. (Steve Higginbotham)

“Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight” (Gen. 43:12).

May our moral values be worthy of the name we carry – Christian!

Anna Lee

Sunday

“But He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’

And they were afraid, and marveled,

saying to one another, ‘Who can this be?’

For He commands even the winds and water,

and they obey Him!”

~ Luke 8:25 ~

 

 

 

GOLLUM’S RIDDLE

 

In the book “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkein, Bilbo Baggins meets Gollum for the first time. Bilbo is lost and needs to find his way out of Gollum’s cave. Gollum will show him the way out if he can answer a riddle. The riddle is this:

This thing all things devours,
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stone to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Bilbo is stumped. Do you know the answer? Take a moment to try to figure it out before looking at the answer below.

The answer to the riddle is “time”. It’s so true. Time will devour all living things, as well as everything else. If you live long enough, you can see some of the effects of time. Drive through a rural area sometime and take a look at the barns, sheds and possibly even houses that are deteriorated with time. What you see there is taking place all around you. Some things perish quickly (maybe even were designed to do so). Other things, like the great Egyptian pyramids, seem to stand the test of time. But, given enough time, everything will crumble. And when Jesus returns, we’ll be made aware of just how temporary the the things of this life are.

“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endure forever.” (I Peter 1:24-25).

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

I trust you will soon be up and getting ready for Bible study and worship. Have a very special Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“Our fathers trusted in You;

they trusted,

and You delivered them.

They cried to You,

and were delivered;

they trusted in You,

and were not ashamed.”

~Psalm 22:4-5~

Jesse Dean had a good day yesterday. If all continues to go well, he might be able to go home Monday. Thank God he was able to get help and is improving. Continue to pray for him and his family.

Curt Martin’s leg is less swollen now. Pray for him as he tries to be still so his leg will improve. Thank God it is improving.

KOMpray

April 11, 2008

“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~

HE’S A LOT LIKE YOU…

One of our MK (missionary kid) boys in West Africa is very outgoing. He loves to play soccer and do flips on the trampoline. He has many local friends, but not one of them is a Christian. This MK can talk to his young friends in a way his missionary parents can’t. His age and the fact that he likes the same things as his friends really help!

One night this 10-year-old MK who was born in West Africa prayed during family devotions. “Dear God, help us not to be shy to tell our friends about You. We love You and we want them to love You too.”

Please pray for MKs. Ask God to make them strong in their faith and courageous enough to tell their friends about Jesus. Pray that West African children and youth will listen and learn that Jesus wants to be their closest friend.

What about you? Do you like to play sports? Do you have friends who don’t know Jesus? Pray for our MKs, but why not pray for yourself too? “Dear God, help us not to be shy to tell our friends about You. We love You and we want them to love You too.”

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

I play American football and my friends are not Christian. Please pray for the salvation of my friends Jorge, Pedro, Alvaro, Frank, Frankie and Cabandi. MICHAEL, age 17 (Middle America and Caribbean)

I want you to pray for my family and friends, and pray for our family to tell more people about Jesus. SR, age 8 (East Asia)

Pray that MI will get over the death of her husband. I hope that other people will believe in Christ instead of a false god-they call him Buddha. I hope they will believe in Christ someday. ZA, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

My name is Rebekah and I am about to go back to the United States. I haven’t been in the States for 4 years, so it will be quite a shock. Then I’ll get a little more shock when I start college. Please pray for my family and for me as we try to adjust back to living in the States. I’m very nervous about college! Please pray that God will give me wisdom to see what He wants me to do with my life. Please pray for the people in South America that the Christians will be strong in their faith and that they will tell the message of Jesus to the poor. REBEKAH, age 18 (South America)

Pray for me to learn to control my mouth so I won’t hurt someone with my words. MICHAL, age 15 (Pacific Rim)


MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please pray for missionaries Tom and Judi Kent as they begin their final stateside assignment this month before their retirement. Intercede for them as they adjust to living in the United States, prepare for and share about what God is doing in Paraguay and the needs there, spend time with family, and rest a little. Pray for needed strength and stamina as they travel and share. Ask the Father to provide a home for them in Louisiana that will meet their needs. May they be able to make new friends and continue to minister to others in the new place of ministry to which God is leading them.

Shirley Ann Gilliland Graham


A worker at Judson Baptist Church daycare in Walker, she died at 8:22 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2008, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Covington. She was 61, a resident of Amite and a native of Walker. Visitation at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, on Saturday, April 12, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes Sunday, April 13, from 11 a.m. until service in the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Russell Hinson. Burial in Judson Baptist Church Cemetery, Walker. She is survived by her husband, Russell K. Graham; daughter, Amanda Graham; two sons, Charles and Carlton Woodward; four stepchildren, Linda Nevels, Bernita Smith, Rusty Graham and Deeanna Fontenot; three sisters, Clemmie Massey, Lou Nell Courville and Sandra Wainwright; three brothers, Glenn, Paul and Robert Gilliland; very special friend, Betty Hull; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Charles M. and Lutie Badon Gilliland. Pallbearers will be Wayne, Ty and Cordell Hull, Adam Jones, Dusty Glascock and Ben Ballard. Honorary pallbearer is Casey Shaw. She was a member of Judson Baptist Church, Walker. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cerebral Palsy Foundation, 1805 College Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

WASHING YOUR SINS AWAY

The following true story comes from the “Kids of the Kingdom” section of Christian Reader (July/August 2000):

As a couple drove home from church one afternoon, they were talking about a friend who was going to be baptized that day. As they were saying how proud they were of him, their three-year-old daughter Elizabeth asked, “What does it mean to be baptized?”

Their 5-year-old son Joshua spoke up, “Oh, baptism — that’s when the preacher washes all your senses away.”

Well, that’s not quite what the scriptures teach. I’m sure what that little boy meant (at least, I hope so) is that the scriptures teach that baptism washes our “sins” away. Ananias said to Saul (later to be known as the apostle Paul):

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that there’s magical power in the water. In fact, the power is not in the water, but in the blood of Jesus Christ. But as baptism demonstrates a death (to sin), burial (in water) and resurrection to new life, it expresses a faith in Jesus Christ who died, was buried and who rose again the third day (Romans 6:3-4). And the end result is not a washing of the body, but a washing of the soul — remission of sins (I Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38).

Have you taken this step of faith?

“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina


If your sins have not been “washed away”, please attend a local church tomorrow and ask for more information on being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. You’ll never regret your decision. You’ll never be the same!

Anna Lee

Friday

“I can do all things through Him

who strengthens me.”

~Philippians 4:13 (NASB)~

 

 

Groups of people to pray for today:

  • Lost
  • Hurting
  • Lonely
  • Sick
  • Grieving
  • Political Leaders
  • Military
  • Homebound
  • Graduation seniors (high school and college)
  • Travelers (especially those dealing with canceled flights)

Aaron Spencer Hill
Aaron Spencer Hill, 7 weeks, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visitation is 5-7 pm today at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon and 1 pm Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Pinelake Church. Services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday at the church with a private burial later that day.
Aaron was born with a special heart. He did not live on this earth very long, but his short life touched the hearts of many for the glory of God. He will always be missed and always be loved.
Survivors include his parents, Scott and Faith Hill of Madison; and a brother, Levi Hill of Madison; grandparents, Leon and Lynn Hill of Terry, and Jerry and Kay Risher of Enterprise. He is also survived by a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family requests memorials be made to the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216

FBC Deacons for next week

  • Larry Miller
  • Henry McKenzie

FBC nursery workers for 4-23-08

  • Fay shoemaker
  • J.C. Miller
  • Scott and Katie Miller

KneEmail

Salt


“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor


MY WIFE ASKED me recently what I wanted for supper…

I told her I’d enjoy a big pot of home-cooked pinto beans. She quickly reminded me that we were under strict orders to cut back on our sodium intake. “The doctor says high blood pressure and salt aren’t close friends.” “They don’t have to be close friends,” I replied, “just friendly acquaintances!” Cutting back is one thing; cutting out is impossible — especially when you are a fan of pinto beans.

Salt was not considered a detriment in ancient cultures. On the contrary, it was regarded as a highly prized commodity. The Greeks called it theon, which means “divine.” Often, Roman soldiers were paid in salt (that which they received as wages was referred to as a salarium, from which we get our English word “salary”), and it was from that practice that the expression “not worth his salt” came into usage. In some societies salt was even more precious than gold. That’s something to mull over when you realize that the current market price for an ounce of precious yellow metal is just over $1,000. Remember that next winter when you are slinging that 25-pound bag of rock salt over your icy driveway.

Salt was deemed valuable for at least three reasons: First, it was a PRESERVATIVE. Without refrigeration, meat was especially subject to spoilage. Salt “cured” animal flesh and kept it from going bad. Second, it was a SEASONING. Historians tell us that the diet in and around ancient Palestine tended to be bland. Salt permeated food and gave it a distinctive, pleasant flavor. Third, it was a CLEANSING AGENT. Wounds were bathed in salt water in order to sterilize them. Infection was kept in check by the high salinity brine solution and helped promote healing.

Because we can purchase salt in such large quantities for relatively little money today, we often lose sight of what Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. We probably don’t give much thought to Bible doctrine when we are buying that navy blue, cylindrical box of Mortons at the local IGA. But when the Lord declared, “You are the salt of the earth…” (Matthew 5:13a), He was underscoring our great value and influence in the world. Faithful children of God have a preserving effect in a world of rampant spiritual decay (Genesis 18:23ff; Proverbs 14:34; 2 Timothy 3:13); they hinder and retard moral decline. Christians add a divine tang or flavor to the local community in which they live. Once salt is added to a food, it permeates and changes it. (Just a smidgen of salt can enhance a big pot of pinto beans)! Then too, believers serve as a kind of virtuous antiseptic towards those wounded by the effects of sin.

On the other hand, Christians who wear their holy designation on “Sunday only” have no life-testimony — they neither preserve, season, nor heal. That’s what Jesus meant when he said, “…But if the salt loses its flavor … it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot…” (v. 13b). In New Testament times, salt was collected from crystals around the Dead Sea. These formations were full of impurities, and since the actual salt was more soluble than the impurities themselves, the rain often washed out the sodium chloride, which made what was left worthless since it literally lost its saltiness. This residual material was simply thrown into the yard to destroy the fertility of the soil (Deuteronomy 29:23; Judges 9:45; Psalm 107:34) and harden the path to the house.

George Barna, the church statistician, highlighted this Bible truth-principle when he wrote, “…The average Christian in the average church is almost indistinguishable from the rest of society. The fundamental moral and ethical difference that Christ can make in how we live is missing. When our teens claim to be saved, get pregnant and do drugs at the same rate as the general teenage population — when the marriages of Christians end in divorce at the same rate as the rest of society — when Christians cheat in business, or lie, steal, and cheat on their spouses at the same statistical level as those who say they are not Christians — something is horribly wrong (Romans 2:19ff).” I hear both Jesus and Barna saying the same thing. That which makes Christians commendable and worthy of respect (James 1:27; Philippians 2:15) can be leached out of their hearts by the constant flow of the world’s values.

Minerals without salt were worthless. Pinto beans without salt are not fit to eat. Likewise, Christians without salt — to borrow from old Kentucky lingo — “ain’t no count.”

Would you please pass the salt? Oh yeah, and the cornbread too! (Mike Benson)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matt. 5:13).

Go out and add Christian flavor to the world today!

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

Anna Lee

Thursday

Then Jesus said,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary

and carry heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you.

Let me teach you,

because I am humble and gentle,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke fits perfectly,

and the burden I give you is light.”

~Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)~

Jesse Dean was in the emergency room until a room became available yesterday afternoon. He’s in room 4015 and is feeling much better. Keep praying for Jesse, Majel, and the family as well as the medical staff at North Oaks.

He is doing fine. He will need to be on the blood thinner for 5 days then he can go home. So far everything else is fine. All of his doctors have been by to see him.

Thanks,
Jennifer

Mrs. Jeanette Rhodus came home briefly, but is back at North Oaks. She is scheduled to begin chemo soon. Please put “Miss” Jeanette on you daily prayer list if she is not already there.

Donald Garner’s gall bladder surgery is scheduled for today at Lacombe. Please pray for all involved.

Please continue to pray for the Hill family of the Jackson, MS area as they prepare for the funeral for little Aaron. Once again, if you have not already done so, please check out Aaron’s web page.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aaronhill1

Joan Hagan’s surgery is scheduled for April 30th. It is not too early to begin praying for that!

Chuck Pittman will have a PET scan today. He only has one more chemo treatment scheduled. Pray for Chuck and his family as they fight this battel together.

Chuck’s mom, Mrs. Bertha Pittman, is still at North Oaks. She is about the same. Please pray for her and for her family as they help the medical staff care for her.

Mr. Henry Harris is feeling better and able to get out some. Please continue to pray for Mr. Henry and “Miss” Emma.


Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Goal: $13,000.00

Received so date: $9357.85

Big Ten from TeamRomany, April 2008


1. Please pray for Gayle as she makes plans for a ladies’ conference with the women of Isuratei, Romania. The conference will be held in May and Gayle will be busy working out details of the event this month.
2. Please pray for youth who meet for Bible study in the Hill’s home on Monday nights and at Lacul Dulce on Friday nights. Thank God for their faithfulness to attend. Pray that they would grow in their walk with the Lord and that their lives would be a testimony of Christ’s transforming power.
3. Please pray for those seeking the Lord’s will about their place in Romany mission work.
4. Bro. Petrache, a Romany pastor from Lacul Dulce, Romania recently suffered a stroke affecting his left side. He is better and we ask that you pray for his complete healing. Pray also for his family during this difficult time. Pray for his needs to be met. Medicines and healthy foods can be both challenging to access and expensive for Romany families.
5. Pray for the Hills as they are evaluating some of their ministry habits and assessing their goals and objectives. Please pray that God will bless them with wisdom and show them how he wants them to focus their time and efforts.
6. Please pray for the Hill’s 8 year-old granddaughter, Madison. Please pray that God would meet her needs.
7. Please pray for Joe and Julie Silby and their children Ryan, Avery, and Hannah. They are being appointed in Dallas, Texas this week to join teamromany. They will arrive in the Czech Republic in early July. Please pray that their house and car sell.
8. Please pray for the Hatchels as they make plans to host a Disciple Now weekend for elementary aged MKs (Missionary Kids) in the Czech Republic. The event will be in early May, but they are making plans for the Bible studies and activities now.
9. Pray for Boyd as he meets with Romany teenagers on Friday evenings for soccer and Bible study. Pray that the teens would be open to the message he shares.
10. Pray for Jennie as she meets with women on Tuesday night for encouragement, fellowship and discipleship. Pray that the time she spends will help the women grow in their relationships with Christ.

CARPENTER

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor

THAT’S PROBABLY WHAT Joseph and Mary’s neighbors said many times…

What was he like as a child? There are some fanciful and apocryphal stories about Jesus performing various miracles as a child. On one occasion, supposedly, he didn’t feel like building the piece of furniture his father had asked him to build, so he enlisted the aid of squirrels and birds to hammer the nails and shape the wood.

But if that was all there was about Mary’s son Jesus, then he wouldn’t have been very special, would he? We get only glimpses of him as a young man. There is the self-assured twelve-year-old who sat with theologians and scholars discussing God’s law (Luke 2:41-49). When his frantic parents scolded him, he made that enigmatic statement about “being in my Father’s house.” Somehow the carpenter’s shop did not seem to be his destiny! His answer verged ever so closely to a scolding in return, and remarkably, his parents let it pass.

They knew there was something about their son.

There is so much that we are curious about. Did he play with neighborhood friends? Probably. Did he go to a local synagogue school and become a bar Mitsvah, a son of the covenant? Yes, all Jewish boys did. The Bible tells us that he grew “in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man.” Obviously it is vital to grow in favor with God, but it is impressive that he earned the respect of the community, too. Young men seem to work so hard at earning the community’s fear and disrespect these days!

And we wonder when exactly it became clear to Jesus that there was something about him that was unique. When he proclaimed his message as an adult, he was fully conscious of his uniqueness. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the father,” Jesus declared (John 14:9). To see Jesus act, and hear him speak was to catch a glimpse of God himself.

This was no mere magic act. This was God himself, with us (Matthew 1:23). Yes, there really is something about Mary’s son. Come and see him. (Stan Mitchell)

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him” (Mark 6:3).

Thanks for being there to pray each day. You and your prayers mean so much to so many! If you have a praise report, a prayer request, or an update to share. please feel free to do so. Others will pray with you!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“In my distress I called upon the Lord,

and cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

and my cry came before Him,

even to His ears.”

~Psalm 18:6~

 

 

 

Please continue to pray for Scott and Faith Hill, their extended families, and their friends in the loss of little Aaron.

Praise report from Selena Morgan on Kaden Underwood

Thank everyone for their prayers for Kaden Underwood. His heart surgery went well. He has had a wonderful recovery and is home a week earlier than expected. Thank you all so much for praying for him and his family through this very difficult time.

Jesse Dean

Dad is back at the hospital with a blood clot in his right lung. They are watching it closely and have him on medication. He will be there for at least 5 days. Please keep him in your prayers.

Thanks,

Jennifer

Jennie served as a MK teacher for two years in Santa Catarina.

SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL (sahn-tah cah-tah-REE-nah). In February, you prayed for the need for more workers in the Frei Damiao “favela” (community), not knowing that during that same week, the entire community was attempting to recover from severe flooding that left 800 families homeless and sent water surging through other homes at heights of 5-6 feet. Local workers praise God that the Jardim Eldorado congregation and staff members at their community center (CADI) in Frei Damiao were able to provide immediate shelter for 60 families, feed more than 400 people three times a day for several days, and provide emergency first aid. Thanks to financial aid from the IMB disaster relief funds, families who still had homes and cooking facilities received food baskets, mattresses and cleaning supplies. Those whose homes were destroyed are receiving concrete blocks to rebuild a basic framework for their home. Staff members from the CADI and volunteers have worked long hours to match donations of clothing and furniture with the long lists of needs they compiled in the days following the flooding. God has provided opportunities during this crisis for Pastor R, his congregation, and new believers within the community to show Christ’s love to thousands. They ask you to pray that many lives will be permanently changed through Jesus as a result of these contacts.
http://ronalana.wordpress.com

PAKISTAN. R, an Urdu literacy teacher, has been facing threats and persecution recently. Last month you were specifically praying for the five students who said that they believed that Isa is who He says He is. R was trying to meet with each one individually to talk more about this truth. She was meeting with BB, one of the five, in BB’s home. BB’s husband came home while they were meeting, and he became very angry at R for being in his home and meeting with his wife. He told her that he knew what she was doing–trying to change his wife’s beliefs. He told her never to come back to his house again and that he knew where she lived. Please pray for BB to be safe, and pray that what she has learned about Isa will lead her to a saving faith in the one true God. Pray for some way that R may be able to see BB and make sure she is all right. Since this has happened, R has had to stop the Urdu class in that area. But God has already opened another door for a new class to be started in another area, this time with 16 women! These women are eager and excited to learn. Please pray that they will be excited and open to hearing stories from the Bible three days per week as well. http://www.go2southasia.org/

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. Please lift up two semester student workers on the island of Mauritius. Pray that they will adjust well, form lasting friendships, build relationships with the university students with eternal results, and continue to seek the Lord daily. Pray that they will be encouraged by God through His Word and reminded of their call. Ask God to bless the ideas, visions and goals they instill in the lives of all whom they come in contact with, and pray that they will function well with the other workers on the island.

Christy Quin Wharton sent new pictures of her children. Let me know if you would like me to send them to you.

One of the coaches at school shared this:

Daily Rules from God for 2008


1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. ‘Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. ‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.’ I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. ‘He who guards his lips guards his soul.’ Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!… For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. ‘Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…’ Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!… To the Lord.
‘I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.’ Phillippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!… For something higher. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path.’
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up!!… Your Prayers.
‘Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.’
Philippians 4:6


God answers Knee-Mail.


Have a great day!

Anna Lee