Category: Family

Wednesday

“All these were continually united in prayer.”

~Acts 1:14, HCSB~


Mrs. Martha Dykes Traylor had 3100 ml of fluid removed and can now breathe better.  Please keep her in your prayers.

 

From Trudy Muse Schockley

Please pray for Jordan. She had an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy around midnight last night and should be discharged today.

Also, we appreciate continued prayers for Eddie. He is comforted and blessed by the steadfast love & support shown from family, friends and strangers.

Trudy Shockley

The last report from Mr. Frankie Gehringer is that he is doing well.  Continue to pray for him as he comes home for physical therapy.

Jadon’s Story: Quick update and taking orders for purple ribbons

I’m feeling much better but I’m still not myself. I’m very fussy and irritable. My seizures are back to where they were before I got sick. So I’m having about 80 a day. Some are more intense than others but overall I’m having more less intense seizures than intense ones. Please pray that my seizures will get better.

March 26th is Purple Day! A girl named Cassidy Megan created the idea of Purple Day in 2008, motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy. Cassidy’s goal is to get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. We are in the process of making purple ribbons with my name on them for you to wear that day. If you are interested please email my mommy the number of ribbons you would like. Her email is monica.pailet@gmail.com The ribbons will be $1 each. We are asking that everyone wear their purple shirt and/or ribbon that day to support me and all the people who live with epilepsy on a daily basis.

Continue to pray for my Texas cousins.  Yesterday was a better day

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Fast Facts

http://www.anniearmstrong.com/fast_facts.asp/

 

Continue to pray for people around the world that are facing problems that endanger their safety.  Pray they learn to turn to God to help them face all the days of their lives.

 

Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund Established

 

The Louisiana Baptist Convention announced today the establishment of a special fund to assist with response to the earthquake and tsunami disaster in northern Japan. David E. Hankins, working with the LBC missions and ministry team leader, John Hebert, reports that the new fund will be called the Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund.

 

Funds from churches, groups (such as Sunday School classes, youth groups) and individuals collected by the LBC will be channeled though our Southern Baptist partners, the California Baptist Convention and the IMB Baptist Global Response who already have strong networks with Baptists in Japan. Every dollar donated will be accounted and used in relief work. Administrative costs are absorbed by existing ministry infrastructures.

 

To contribute to the fund, mail your donation to Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund, Louisiana Baptist Convention, P.O. Box 311, Alexandria, LA 71309.Donations must be made payable to Louisiana Baptist Convention with a designated memo specifically named Japanese Tsunami on the document.

 

In addition to opening the new fund, the LBC disaster relief office will serve as advisors for churches and individuals who desire to travel to Japan and do relief work. “Our role is that of working as a connecting agent,” said Gibbie McMillan, LBC disaster relief strategist. “Our goal is to connect volunteers with stateside groups who are organizing a direct response. We aren’t going to organize our own group when working with others is more efficient and effective.”

 

Consult www.LBC.org/DisasterRelief for additional information and future news releases related to the Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund. You may also e-mailGibbie.McMillan@LBC.org.

 

Thank you for praying today.  Your prayers mean so much to so many.

Anna Lee

Thursday

Johnnie Smith

My daddy johnnie smith has had some chances,we got a call around 1:00am that he was having problems with his heart.so please keep him in ur prays.thanks for ur prays.

Sherry Rosamond

Mrs. Mildred Bridges had a stroke and is hospitalized in McComb.  She has already made some improvements.  J.C. Miller requested prayers for her.

“Boots” Prescott returned home last night.  Please be in pray for him as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

Mrs. Susie Wales will be having surgery next Wednesday.  Please begin now to pray for her.

Continue to pray for Mr. J.D. Smith as he continues to undergo tests in Baton Rouge.

Pray for my momma, Dot Smith.  The doctors we saw yesterday had different opinions.  Pray her problem is correctly identified and treated.

Frankie Gehringer will have surgery next week.  Begin to lift him up in your prayers.

She’s ninety-one and amazing!  Mrs. Kathryn Sanders was shopping in Walmart yesterday.  Thank God for her progress since she broke her hip.

Continue to pray for Mrs. Margaret Huber.  She’s at her home now.

Self-Control

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor

DO YOU SUSPECT that your daughter might be more devoted to Facebook than physics, or have you been searching so avidly online that you suddenly realize you haven’t looked up from your screen in hours…?

A few handy websites can help you keep your eye on the clock.  Productivity Meter, free downloadable software, is available at fruitfultime.com.  You tag your favorite websites “productive” or “unproductive,” and the program registers and graphs your time.  Download the program data onto a portable flash drive so you can track your usage on any computer.

  • For about $10 a month, Slife Web (slifelabs.com) sits in the background of your screen, quietly watches your online activities.  You can restrict your time in particular areas such as news, e-mail, and games.

  • The family pan on rescuetime.com tracks how each member of your clan spends time online, and it plots the data by hour, day, and week.  The site, which also offers individual plans, even allows you to block distracting websites from your loved ones–and yourself.  Reader’s Digest,“Gadget Mania,” March 2011, 97

KneEmail:  22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5.22-24

 

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”

(this word means Sent).

So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him

begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

~John 9:7–8 (NIV)~

It looks like we are going to have another beautiful day.  I’m planning to celebrate with my last day of physical therapy for my broken arm which is healing nicely.  I will have a little more therapy to do at home to have the return of the full range of movement.  I thank God for this beautiful day and the great improvement in my arm!

Baptist Press Stories for Feb. 14, 2011
—————————————
  • Egyptian Christian’s goal: restrictions lifted on Gospel
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34646
  • Poll: Christian-operated businesses have support of American public
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34647
  • ‘Culture of sacrifice’ is church’s goal
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34648
  • Panel passes bill banning abortion funding
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34649
  • Pastors’ Conf. aim: 1,000 church plants
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34650
  • FIRST-PERSON: Have you lost your love for Jesus?
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34651

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10

Mike Benson, Editor

A MAN FELL into a pit and couldn’t get himself out…

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.”

An objective person came along and said, “It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”

A Pharisee came along and said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”

A mathematician came along and calculated how deep the pit was.

A news reporter came along and asked for the exclusive story on the pit.

An IRS agent came along and asked if the man was paying taxes on the pit.

A self-pitying person came along and said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”

A Christian Scientist came along and said, “The pit is just in your mind.”

A psychologist came along and said, “Your mother and father are to blame for your being in the pit.”

A self-esteem therapist came along and said, “Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit.”

An optimist came along and said, “Things could be worse.”

A pessimist came along and said, “Things couldn’t be worse.”

A spiritual man came along, took the man by the hand, and lifted him out of the pit.  Source unknown

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass,

you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,

considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

~Galatians 6.1~

Which man are you?  Which man would you like to be?  What are you going to do to become the man you want to be?

Thank-you for praying for the many people who are listed here.  Your prayers make a difference in many lives!

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~

Rene Deck is doing well following her back surgery.  She was able to be at church Sunday and again last night.  Keep her in your prayers as she continues to heal.

Pray for the Hatchels as they are at Malta for the next week and a half.  Pray for Boyd and Jennie as they lead a conference for their coworkers.

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell’s heart procedure is scheduled for 1 P.M.  Let have many prayers now and right through her surgery time.

There have been a number of young people in wrecks lately.  Thank God for protecting the drivers.  Be careful on the wet roads.

Mrs. Bertie Hano is in Beachum Hospital in Magnolia.  Pray for her to return to her good health so she can return to the nursing home and be an ambassador for the Lord there.

Meagan Strickland had her surgery yesterday.  Pray for her as she heals at home and for her baby daughter as she gains weight.

Jadon’s Story: Mild, but More

My seizures have increased the last three days. I’m having about 40 spasms a day now. Even though they have increased they are still very mild. We are still thankful that they are mild. I’m still very happy and doing new things. We found out the other day that I’m not getting a PT. The PT that was going to come is not servicing this area anymore. So no PT for now. My mommy is trying really hard to find me one. I really need PT. Other than thing, things have been nice around here. It’s amazing how much easier things have been the past week. Thanks for praying for me 🙂

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

THERE WAS A daddy who had nine big strapping sons that formed the starting lineup of the best team that ever played baseball…

The daddy was the manager, and always found fault with anything his sons did.  Let one of  his sons hit a home run and he would say something like, “Boy, he put the ole’ apple right down the middle, didn’t he?  Blind man coulda hit that one.  Your grandma coulda put the wood on that one.  If a guy couldn’t hit that one, there’d be something wrong with him, I’d say.  Wind practically took that one out of here, didn’t even need to hit  it much.”

And if you think that was bad, you should have heard him when one of them made a mistake.  It was obvious that this wasn’t “home on the range,” because there was always a discouraging word.  His sons could never please him, and if they did, he forgot it.  When his oldest son, Edwin Jim, Jr., turned and ran to the centerfield fence for a long fly ball and threw his glove forty feet in the air to snag the ball and caught the ball and glove, his daddy said, “I saw a man in Superior, Wisconsin, do that a long time ago, but he did it at night and the ball was his a lot harder.”

Those boys could have used some encouragement.  What is true of sons in general is true of sons of God.

19 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:19-25

What does the Lord have planned for you today?  Make it a great day as He reveals His plans for you!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Afternoon

We saw Mrs. Katheryn Sanders.  She has improved enough to go to rehab next Sunday. The birthday party is still scheduled for 2-4 Saturday at the Specialty Hospital across from North Oaks.

Update on my shoulder

  • I am up to about 90% usage of my arm now.  I have a little more physical therapy, but it has really helped.
  • The bone is not healed, but is healing well.  The orthopedist said I do not need to see him again unless I have a problem

Wednesday

“This poor man cried out,

and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.”

~Psalm 34:6a~

My broken arm

I’ve been making good physical therapy progress with my broken arm.  Today, I see the orthopedist again.  Pray that I get a good report there too.

Jadon’s Story:  I’m feeling better!

I went for my checkup today. My pediatrician said I wasn’t wheezing anymore. Thank God I’m not wheezing anymore. I can now stop the breathing treatments. She did put me on another antibiotic. I still have alot of congestion in my chest. Hopefully the antibiotic will help get rid of all this yucky stuff. My seizures are still great. I’m not having very many at all. I don’t have a good number for you because they are so little you have to be holding me to even know I’m having one. We did stop the steroids yesterday so we will see how I do the rest of the week. Please pray that they will stay down. I can’t tell you how much better life is when my seizures are down. I’m much happier, I’m stronger, and I babble so much more. My mommy also doesn’t have to worry about me hitting my head. I can’t begin to explain the joy it brings to my family. I will keep you updated. I got my computer back so it will be much easier. Thanks for praying for me 🙂

Jon-Michael Williams and his mother, Brenda Gill Williams

Please continue to pray for Jon-Michael Williams, his mother, and many friends.  Thank God for all the friends and strangers who have stepped up to help.    Thousands of emails to Extreme Home Makeover have been written.  It’s not too late to write your email or to get everyone in your class, club, or home to write.

Cold weather

Take care and stay warm.  Help someone else who might not be warm enough.

Baptist Press: 2-1-11

  • Chick-fil-A stands firm during gay clamor, gains support
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34564
  • Church planting ‘a significant priority,’ seminary leader says
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34563
  • As CP giving rebounded, so did congregation
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34565
  • CP: 3.19% below previous year’s pace
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34566
  • Health care ruling most significant one yet

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34567

  • SUPER BOWL: Steelers’ chaplain benefits from coach’s, team’s support
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34568
  • SUPER BOWL: Packers’ chaplain a ‘resource’ for players in spiritual need
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34569
  • CBF budget shortfall: 13 positions eliminated
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34570
  • ‘A Scent of Jasmine,’ a novel, Chapter 12

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34571

  • FIRST-PERSON: Creating a culture of character in your company
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34572
Johnnie W. Tidwell
(November 5, 1933 – February 1, 2011)

Johnnie W. Tidwell was born November 5, 1933 and passed away at 9:39 a.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at his residence. He was 77, a native of Booneville, MS and a resident of Greensburg.

Johnnie is survived by a sister, Bernice T. Cade, Livingston; 3 brothers, Bill Tidwell, Livingston, Jimmy Tidwell, Greensburg and Charles “Cleve” Tidwell and wife Sybil, Greensburg; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie and Annie Rogers Tidwell; sister, Clynese T. Phillips; and brother, Hubert Tidwell.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Services at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home Chapel with Rev. Larry Stewart officiating. Interment in the Greensburg Cemetery.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N and Hwy 16W next to Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor

HENRY FORD HAD an incredibly large dream…

He envisioned an affordable automobile for every family at a time when automobiles were only luxurious novelties.  The average person traveled by foot, horse, train, or boat.  People in his day were at first skeptical of his dream, but Ford’s development of the assembly line and mass production of automobiles changed forever world manufacturing and the American way of life.

How can the dreamer know if his vision is big enough?

Several factors can help in assessing the size of the vision. First, the vision has to be bigger than the envisioner in the sense that it goes far beyond him and his abilities to accomplish it.  If he or she feels that it is within his or her grasp to accomplish the vision, then it is probably too small and limits God.  When Christians develop visions that go beyond their abilities, they are forced to bring God into the picture and begin to trust him to play the major role in realizing the vision.  When this happens, in a sense, the sky becomes the limit…  Aubrey Malphurs, The Vision Process, Developing a Vision for Ministry, 66-67

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37.5-11

May you be able to count new blessings in your life today.

Anna Lee

Thursday

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one,

and each one will receive his own reward

according to his own labor.

For we are God’s fellow workers;

you are God’s field,

you are God’s building.”

~1 Corinthians 3:8-9~

Please continue to pray for these people who have been on our prayer list:

  • Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell
  • Mrs. Kathryn Sanders
  • Mrs. Sadie Hilburn
  • Jeff Birch
  • Mr. Gordon Price
  • Elizabeth Cooper
  • Mrs. Shirley Frazier
  • Rev. Gary Weiborg
  • Mrs. Frances Gay
  • Ashlyn Neal
  • Stacey Scarle

There are several funerals today.  Please pray for the Baugh family in Florida, the family of Tressie Gayle Foster in Denham Springs, and others.

Don’t forget the “Third Thursday” meeting at the cabin tonight at 6:30.  Join us for food, fellowship, devotional time, and prayer.  You’ll be blessed!

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JANUARY 20, 2011

“But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, in the acceptable time.” (Psalm 69:13)

WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Supreme Pontiff, Roman Catholic Church – Benedict XVI, Pope of Holy See (Vatican City, within commune of Rome, Italy).

AR OF COLOMBIA (ahr). Thank you for your prayers for the missionaries who work with the Ar of Colombia, asking that God would walk with them as they adjusted to a new city, new environment, and renewed work strategy. They are now comfortably settled in their home and neighborhood, their daughter is in school, and they have begun to make contacts with the Ar people. One woman, V, has invited them to visit in her home once a week for a time of Bible study. Two other women have expressed an interest in studying the Bible but live in a more isolated area, making it more difficult for the missionaries to coordinate a regular time of meeting. Pray that God will go before and open times for the missionaries to meet with these two Ar women. Pray that all three women will receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and that many other Ar people will have the desire to know God. brenlar@kastanet.org

OSAKA, JAPAN (OH-sah-kah). Mrs. E rises early each morning to make sure that all of her housework is completed before she leaves for her job of selling rice cakes at a sports complex. Recently when she met a Christian for the first time, she said, “Oh, every morning I listen to a radio program about Jesus being the Light of the world.” She then quoted some verses she had memorized from that program. Pray that as she reads God’s Word with her new Christian friend, she will have the faith to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. She was fascinated with the idea of Jesus being Light. Pray that she, too, will become a light among her lost friends and neighbors.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2.10
Mike Benson, Editor

ONE CHURCH CONSULTANT SAYS: “Most Christians don’t have a clue to what the mission of the church is…

Up to 80 percent of church members believe that the primary purpose of the church is to provide a place of fellowship where Christians can share God’s love with one another rather than reach out to those who are unchurched…”

…According to researcher George Barna, “Nine out of ten preachers call their church ‘evangelistic.’  However, less than one of of three church attenders has shared his or her faith in Christ with a non-Christian within the past twelve months…”  Tom Clegg, Warren Bird, “Discovering What We All Have in Common,”Missing in America, 87

“How I kept back nothing that was helpful,

but proclaimed it to you,

and taught you publicly and from house to house.”

Acts 20.20

Have a terrific Thursday!

Anna Lee

Third Thursday

Everyone is invited to our “Third Thursday” meeting for January at the cabin in the Pine Ridge community.  We meet at 6:30 and share supper and fellowship.  Later, there is a devotional time and prayer.  You are all invited.  Please know we do not put anybody “on the spot”.  If you cannot come this month, please plan to join us another “Third Thursday”.

Tuesday Addition

Physical therapy is going well for my fractured right shoulder.  I think God for the progress I already see and for the absence of pain most of the time.

Pray for Mrs. Leroy (Margaret Ann Daniel) Wilson who had MS,  a gallstone, and now shingles.

Graveside Service of Marilyn Fox

Frank just talked to Lowry and the graveside service for Marilyn (Mrs. Lowry) Fox is scheduled for this coming Sat., Jan. 15, at 1:00 pm in Lea Cemetery near Gillsburg, MS.  This is assuming that Lowry can get through the snow and ice that now has Atlanta shut down.

Fedora Inez “FiFi” Clement Langlois
(June 29, 1944 – January 10, 2011)

Fedora Inez “FiFi” Clement Langlois was born June 29, 1944 and passed away, Monday, January 10, 2011 at North Oaks Medical Center, Hammond. She was 66, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Independence.

FiFi is survived by her husband of 43 years, Doug Langlois; brother, Jack Clement and wife Betty Ann, Independence; nephews, Brian Clement and wife, Becky and child, Lauren & Kevin Clement and wife Kim and children, Peyton and Mollie;

Preceded in death by her parents, Claude & Lucy Populis Clement; son, Douglas “Dougie” Langlois; maternal grandparents, Rev. Lawrence and Beulah Populis.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at Lawrence Missionary Baptist Church, Independence from 9:00 a.m. until Celebration of Life Worship Services at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Elester Raines officiating. Interment in Lawrence Cemetery, Independence.

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

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located at I-55N (Exit 46) and Hwy 16W next to Hood Chevrolet and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash, Bond Eye Clinic and Holiday Inn Express.

William “Bill” Whitehead

(October 11, 1928 – January 11, 2011)

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at St. Helena Parish Nursing Home in Greensburg. He was born October 11, 1928 in Booneville, MS and was 82 years of age. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Frazier Whitehead; son, Mike Whitehead and his wife, Patsy; 2 grandchildren, Roger Temple and Rebecca Simmons, all of Kentwood; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Quay Stewart and Virginia McCoy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe and Alpha Lois Whitehead; 3 sisters, Mary Sue Smith, Estleen Johnson and Edith Mae Whitehead; 6 brothers, Sidney, George, J. B., Eurchile, Earl and Jerry Whitehead. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 14, 2011. Services conducted by Rev. Don Meadows. Interment New Zion Cemetery, Kentwood.

Monday

By entering through faith

into what God has always wanted to do for us—

set us right with him,

make us fit for him—

we have it all together with God

because of our Master Jesus.

~Romans 5:1 (MSG)~

Continue to pray for travelers.  Many are stuck in airports and hotels.  Some are driving in less than ideal conditions.

Mrs. Katherine Sanders is doing well – good enough to be out walking.  She stayed at home yesterday because of the cold.

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell is home, but continues to not be doing her best.  Please remember her in your prayers.

Ashlyn Neal is much better.  Her family thanks you for the many prayers offered for them.  Keep praying,

Lottie Moon lead a life of significance, making a big difference in God’s kingdom.  What about you?

http://www.imb.org/main/downloads/flashvideos.asp?filename=/files/62/6294/6294-34373.flv

Seeking the Lost

A golfer, playing a round by himself, is about to tee off, and a greasy little salesman runs up to him, and yells, “Wait! Before you tee off, I have something really amazing to show you!”

The golfer, annoyed, says, “What is it?”

“It’s a special golf ball,” says the salesman. “You can never lose it!”

“Whattaya mean,” scoffs the golfer, “you can never lose it? What if you hit it into the water?”

“No problem,” says the salesman. “It floats, and it detects where the shore is, and spins towards it.”

“Well, what if you hit it into the woods?”

“Easy,” says the salesman. “It emits a beeping sound, and you can find it with your eyes closed.”

“Okay,” says the golfer, impressed. “But what if your round goes late and it gets dark?”

“No problem, sir, this golf ball glows in the dark! I’m telling you, you can never lose this golf ball!”

The golfer buys it at once. “Just one question,” he says to the salesman. “Where did you get it?”

“I found it!”

Maybe someday someone will invent a golf ball that can never be lost, but until then we will all have to deal with losing things — golf balls, car keys, glasses, etc. We also have to deal with a lost humanity. I find it interesting that the one term Jesus used most often to describe those who are outside of Christ is the word “lost”.

In Luke 15, Jesus elaborated on this idea by telling three parables — the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost (prodigal) son. The point has often been made that those three parables demonstrate three different ways of being lost — through unintentional wandering (the sheep), through the negligence of someone else (the coin), or through willful disobedience (the son).

However, the point of those three parables is not so much about our lostness as they are about the fact that our God is willing to search for us and bring us back into a relationship with Him. If we will truly see the world around us as “lost”, it will change our perspective as well. Think about the last time you knew of a child that was missing. When a child is lost, we don’t ask what race the child is. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! We don’t ask the child’s economic status. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! We don’t ask what the child may or may not have done wrong. It doesn’t matter — the child is lost! All that matters is that we find that child and bring him/her home safely.

Seeing a world around us as “lost” will change the way we see them. The scribes and Pharisees looked at the tax collectors and sinners and saw terrible, ugly people. Jesus saw people who were lost. All that mattered to him was that he bring them home safely.

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

Father, thank you for diligently searching for me and for bringing me home to you. Fill me with your love so that I may care enough to seek out those around me who are lost. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Have a great week!

Anna Lee