Category: Hope Center

Monday

“I must proclaim the good news

about the kingdom of God to the other towns also,

because I was sent for this purpose.”

~Luke 4:43, HCSB~

 

“Not everyone has heeded the good news.”

~Romans 10:16a, NASB~

 

Mrs. Jerry Pulliam is hospitalized in Franklinton at Riverside Hospital, room 101.  Her son, Chuck, asks that you pray for God’s will in her situation.

“15 Church Facility Issues” by Thom S.  Rainer

http://thomrainer.com/?s=15+church+facility

Operation Christmas Child

  • 5 Years ago, Pastor Sosa organized a small distribution for some children in a remote community in Belize. Most of the children were immigrants whose parents worked on the citrus plantations in grueling conditions. After the distribution, the children kept coming back to the area where the boxes were given out. Pastor Sosa began to organize Sunday Schools for the children in the yard of one of the parents. A church congregation grew out of the outreach. He later moved to the area and today the church meets under a thatch shelter in the front of his yard which was erected with the help of some of the parents. He plans to continue ministering to the community and to obtain land on which to erect a permanent facility.
  • Karie Robertson of Kansas loves to pack shoeboxes. She loves it so much that she has a stack of more than 700 empty shoeboxes in her basement that are ready to be packed with gifts! Many of her friends and family shop local deals throughout the year and help with donations for the packing process. It’s Christmas all year round for Karie!How many shoebox gifts will you pack this year?
  • Check out our Pinterest board for instructions to make pillowcase dresses like these! http://bit.ly/OCCdress — with Margie Bond Cornwell and Jessica Stubbs.
  • “My daughter Jessica and her best friend Sylonn telling their story of how OCC impacts their lives. Through packing these shoeboxes they are closer to Jesus, and understanding that kids around the world need him as well.” – Voeun V.

Hope Center

At nine this morning, the first shipment of food will arrive.  The first distribution will be Friday.  Much work will be needed in the meantime.  Call Hope Center or Sylvester to volunteer to help in the food pantry.  The Hope Center number is 247-2235.

The Annual Two Rivers Associational Meeting will be Sunday night at FBC,K.  Plan to attend to learn about what is going on in our association and to hear a good message.

Don’t forget about the jambalaya dinner Sunday after morning worship.  The donations given will benefit Hope Center.

Our Daily Bread Devotional – “A Faithful Helper” –  http://odb.org

Thank-you for your faithfulness to prayer.  Your prayers each day make a difference.

Anna Lee

Friday

I was working on The Prayer Link EARLY this morning.  When the weather got bad, I shut down the computer thinking it would save my work as has always been done.  I suppose the bad weather prevented the satellite from getting my post, so now I am starting over.  This may not be as good as the first, but I will try to get it posted as quickly as possible.  Please excuse the delay.

“Sing to the LORD, who dwells in Zion;

proclaim His deeds among the nations.”

~Psalm 9:11, HCSB~

 

Connor Corkern

Connor is back in Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.  Please pray for him to feel better soon.

Morgans

Paul had an angiogram and stent Wednesday.  His mom, Virgie, had an angiogram yesterday.  Please thank God for modern heart procedures the prevent bigger problems.

Jambalaya Lunch

  • FBC, Kentwood on October 12 at noon
  • Benefit – Hope Center in Roseland
  • Donations only!
  • Area churches can participate by calling in a number by Wednesday.  Pick-up at 11:30 on the 12th.
  • Jambalaya by Marty, White beans by Mike, Dessert by ladies of the church

Georgia Barnett Offering for Louisiana Missions

FBC,K has already collected 72% of the $8,000 goal for 2014.  Let’s surpass the goal again!

Operation Christmas Child

  • The fabric totes for each shoebox are almost all made.  Thanks to the ladies who have helped cut, stitch, or put in drawstrings.
  • Some boxes need to be put together all need to be filled.  This will happen on November 1st.  Plan to attend our first OCC Christmas Party.

Hope Center

  • Hope is reaching out in a big way!
  • Gravel was put on the new clay driveway around the building yesterday.
  • Sixty-five families have been signed up for food.
  • The first food will be delivered Monday.
  • Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon will be the times for more applications.
  • Friday morning, we will distribute the first food.
  • The thrift store is doing well.
  • See/call me to volunteer for the thrift store or the food bank.

Baptist Press –  http://www.bpnews.net/

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Filtered Light” –  http://odb.org/2014/10/03/filtered-light/
  • It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness,                   who has shone in our hearts.                                                                                                                                                                   ~2 Corinthians 4:6~
  • “The Light of the World is Jesus” –  https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1018

                          Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
                          Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
                         Once I was blind, but now I can see;
                         The light of the world is Jesus.

I like that this site also allows you to see the music for the melody just by clicking a                     tab.

 

Come to the Light (Jesus)!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“A word aptly spoken

is like apples of gold in setting of silver.”

~Proverbs 25:11~

 

Today, let’s pray for categories of people.

  • Those who do not know Jesus as their Savior.
  • Those who are hungry or lacking housing and other basic needs.
  • Those who have difficult family or work relationships.
  • Those who are lonely (sometimes even though there are many people around them).
  • Those who have major decisions and lack the knowledge or judgment to make good decision.
  • Those whose lives seem to be a series of poor choices.
  • Those who live in the past or present, but cannot relate to both.
  • Those who are hurting, seemingly without relief.
  • Those who are homebound.
  • Those who do not have relationships/conversations with other people all day.
  • Those who have sent a loved one away to college, a job, etc.
  • Those who are family caregivers.
  • Other situations as they come to your mind….

God love each of these people.  He has placed us here on earth to fill in for Him to minister to these people.  Let’s find ways, daily, to help others.

Operation Christmas Child

  • Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. – Psalm 4:1 (NKJV)
  • “This is the beginning of our “sort”, just getting things in the appropriate aged boxes, next step to actually pack them so all the goodies fit inside nicely! There are 35 here and we probably have enough stuff to do a lot more. Feeling blessed to be able to share these with kids all over the world!” – Kari B.
  • Sophia, the daughter of a Pastor in Belize, received a shoebox gift in her church 5 years ago. Sophia was then a young teenager and was excited to be receiving a gift. Sophia saw her parents organize the event and saw the impact on the children. She became more involved in her church eventually helping to lead the youth ministry. This year when OCC came back to her community, she was the main coordinator for the event in her church and also encouraged and assisted her parents to mobilize other churches in the community to participate in the program. She is now actively involved in community activities and is doing her degree at the local university so that she can bring change to her community.
  • After his life is spared, a boy comes to faith in Christ when he receives a shoebox gift from Operation Christmas Child.
  • If you like to include a picture in your shoebox gift, … (a) DIY frame would be a fun addition! Encouragement, comfort, and support go a long way in helping people get through the difficult days of their lives.  
  • “Super proud of our family’s “stash” for Operation Christmas Child!
    We have everything from school supplies, toys, clothes, and hygiene products! We set a goal to fill twice as many boxes as last year and I’m pretty sure we’ll end up packing more than that!” – Dora L.

Frozen Food for the First of the Month

If you have not put up some frozen food to share this month, it’s not too late.  You can also send small packs of vegetables/fruit you froze when the food was harvested.  Another option is to purchase suitable frozen food. Think about different food groups,  What would you want to eat?  Some other ideas would be breakfast foods, desserts, and cooked meat.  Be sure to package or purchase small quantities.  There will be only two people in each of the families we are sharing with this month.

Bring your food to my Sunday School classroom before class this week.  The food will be delivered Sunday.

Thank-you to those who have shared.  You certainly have been a blessing to those who cannot or no longer could prepare good meals for their themselves and their loved ones.

Hope Center
First, let me say I’m so thankful for volunteers who have signed up to help.  There were four more from my church today.  I know they will be blessed each day they volunteer.  Our volunteer list is up to fifty, but that we will need and be thankful for more volunteers as new services are added.  Next week, that will be the food delivery to people who qualify.
Today, applications will again be taken for our first food delivery.  Applications will be taken at Home Center in Roseland from 1:00 – 5:00.  It is a simple process.
The first delivery of food to the center will be some time Monday.  Volunteers will be needed Tuesday – Thursday to organize the food and to pack the boxes.  Other volunteers will be needed to assist in the delivery of food on Friday.  Let me know if you can be one of these volunteers or call 247-2235 and leave your name and day/time with them.
God blesses!  That’s a guarantee!
If you have volunteered, let me compliment you on the way you talked and worked with those who came into Hope Center.  You have each displayed a tender, Christian heart of service.  Others have been blessed each and every day!
I need to share something else that touches my heart every day.  There is a large magazine rack of Bibles and other Christian literature that is free to anyone who chooses to make some selections.  I have seen this happen each and every day I was there.  I always had it provided by my family and my church, but that is not true for some people.  That’s another ministry of Hope Center .
Baptist Press –  http://www.bpnews.net/
I trust you are enjoying the new format.  I am.
Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

What a comforting thought and song!

Cindy Milton McIntyre

Born: October 12, 1959
Died: September 29, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2732628

Have a blessed day by being a blessing to someone else!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

being justified freely by His grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

~Romans 3:23-24, NKJV~

Betty Cox Trahan

Born: January 15, 1934
Died: September 29, 2014

      http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2729160

Robert ” Tuffy” L. Jackson

Born: October 17, 1942
Died: September 29, 2014

      http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm/obituaries/view/fh_id/10545/id/2731950

Sunday, the first one of the month, is the day to bring frozen food to my Sunday School classroom.  It will be distributed to families Sunday.  Thanks so much for your support.  You touch lives by doing this.  If you have some vegetables you put in the freezer this year and are willing to share them, please know they will be going to someone who has a special need/request.  The other cooked and frozen foods will be shared as usual.God bless your generosity!

Hope Center signed up twenty-two families the very first day!  They will receive food on the 10th.  Tomorrow, Thursday, applications will be taken from 1-5 P.M.  Come shop and/or volunteer with us!  Contact me or the Hope Center (247-2235) to be put on the schedule.  Food will be arriving Wednesday for distribution on Friday.  We will need special help boxing the food next week.  I post more about that next week.

Friday’s Bible Study is on Sarah.  These are the Scriptures you might want to read in preparation for our discussion.

  • Genesis 11: 29 – 12: 20.
  • Genesis 16
  • Genesis 23: 1-2

Baptist Press –  http://www.bpnews.net/bpfun.asp?id=JM 

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

A special verse and song for some friends and family members today.

  • “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; “

                                                                                                 ~Psalm 55:22a~

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“Let us run with endurance

the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith.”

~Hebrews 12:1b-2a, NKJV~

 

Aubrey McMillan will be having surgery on his hand this week.  Pray that all goes well during surgery and in the recovery process.

Mrs. Jeannette McMillan passed away.  Pray for her family at this difficult time.

Also, Tuffie King passed away.  Pray for this family too.

Hope Center

  1. Hope Center will begin taking applications for food this morning from 9:00 to 1:00 in Roseland.
  2. Applications will be taken Thursday afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00.
  3. The Tuesday/Thursday schedule will continue.
  4. Friday, October 10th is the day for the first food delivery.  Pickup can be made at the Hope Center during the time given to each person.
  5. Volunteers can call me for a scheduled time to work or call 247-2235.
  6. God keeps blessing and blessing.

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/

Ladies’ Bible Study

  • Friday we will be studying Sarah.
  • Scriptures
    • Genesis 11:29 – 12:20
    • Genesis 16
    • Genesis 23:1-2

I’m looking forward to this day at Hope Center.  What I blessing I foresee!

Anna Lee

Monday

“Give ear to my words, O LORD,

consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry,

my King and my God,

for to You I will pray.”

~Psalm 5:1-2, NKJV~

 

Macy Gueldner

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner/journal/view/id/5428a5f64db921b8537fa240

James Frazier

Mr. James Frazier fell a week ago.  Please continue to pray for him as he recovers.

Joe Easley

Joe is a little better.  Keep praying for him, please.

Unspoken Request

I have an unspoken request.  Please pray for an entire family.

Hope Center

Please pray for those who will be going to the missions office in Franklinton this morning for training in helping to complete applications to the food bank.  We will begin the application process Tuesday morning in Roseland.

Thanks to all who have been volunteering.  What a blessing Hope Center has been to the volunteers and those who are visiting there!  God is at work!

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Amazing Grace” –  http://odb.org/
  • My grace is sufficient for you,                                                                                 for My strength is made perfect in weakness.                                                                                                    ~2 Corinthians 12:9~
  • “Amazing Grace” –   https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313

 

I’m expecting to be blessed again today….

Anna Lee 

 

Sunday

“There is no fear in love,

but perfect love casts out fear.

For fear has to do with punishment,

and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

~1 John 4:18, ESV~

 

Please continue your prayers for Sherman Cutrer who is still having problems with his arm.

This is our “four churches Sunday” of the month.  We are so blessed!

The craft day for Operation Christmas Child finished the projects we started two weeks ago.  Now, I’m really looking forward to November 1st.  That’s when we have a Christmas party and pack the shoeboxes.

Hope Center

  • Hope Center had a great week two.  Local people are discovering we are there.  Out-of-town people are discovering us as they travel on the “backroads”.
  • We are selling summer clothes for half of an already low price in order to make room for putting out winter clothing soon.
  • We HAD some furniture this week.  If you have some to share, please let us know.
  • New lighting has been donated and is in preparation for installation.  We are so blessed to have men who have skills to do some of the things we need done without having to pay someone else.
  • Volunteers are working once and signing up to come back and bring someone with them.  I think that speaks highly of what God is doing.
  • Donations are rolling in.  We are so thankful for your support.
  • We have received coat hangers from a number of people, but can use more for children’s clothing and for hanging pants.
  • Our biggest news for the coming week is that we will begin taking applications for the food program Tuesday morning at 9:00 A.M.  The plans are to take applications on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • If you have not stopped by, please do so.

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Every Hardship” –  http://odb.org/2014/09/28/every-hardship/
  •  My grace is sufficient for you,                                                                                                                     for My strength is made perfect in weakness.                                                                                                                                                                                      ~2 Corinthians 12:9~
  • “Great is Thy Faithfulness” –  https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/19

I’m looking forward to a great day!  I trust you have plans to be in God’s House with God’s People studying God’s Word.  (Note: All people are God’s people “in my book”, because He created us all.)

Anna Lee

 

Saturday

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
~Proverbs 3:5-6~

 

Mr. Bobbie Lawson is home from North Oaks.   I’m sure he is thankful to be back in Kentwood.

Nancy Carruth‘s nodule on her lungs is NOT cancerous.  An appointment is scheduled for Wednesday so her doctor can keep up with her kidney stone problem.  She’s looking good.  hank you for praying for her during time.

Operation Christmas Child

  • In a country searching for salvation, OCC shares the hope and love of Jesus Christ through shoebox gifts!
  • In 2006, OCC delivered over 568,000 shoebox gifts to children in the Ukraine! — with Maria Sullivan Galyta.
  • “Two of my great grandchildren ages 4 and 7 and I do this each year. They love shopping for the boxes to send to other children. It does my heart good to hear them say it’s for kids who need a Christmas present. It’s something I love doing with them.” – Pat J.
  • My mother is 86 and she has been sewing bags for our shoeboxes for the last few years. She also has been sewing the little tic tac toe games. She does quilting and uses the scraps. It gives her something to do and it is a blessing for our church.” – Karen C.

    You can make tic tac toe boards for your shoebox gifts too! Check out the instructions here: http://bit.ly/OCCtictactoe

  • “What an honor to work with these students from McDowell Early College as they partnered with Operation Christmas Child to make over 100 bracelets, 50 cards of encouragement and 100 notepads for shoebox gifts this year. One student shared ‘It is such a blessing to send encouragement to others!’” – Nicole S.
  • It’s time to answer another frequently asked question! Today’s question – where do the boxes go?

    OCC delivers shoebox gifts to over 100 countries, which vary from year to year. You can Follow Your Box and learn the country it is delivered to by making your $7 shipping donation online: http://bit.ly/FollowYourBox1

  • The boxes are collected during National Collection Week, which is Nov.17-24 this year. A zip code locator will be available on our website after Oct. 1, so you can find your nearest drop-off location. During National Collection Week, more than 4,000 local drop-off sites will open, so there should be one near you. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operat…/drop-off-locations/
  • In Chad, the children and their families are thankful for the ministry of OCC there. “We have gotten many things we need for our school year (pen, notebooks, pencils, clothes and so on). We pray that God, the Almighty, blesses all those who remembered us this year” they declared.

Craft Day for Operation Christmas Child

  • 1:00 P.M. today
  • FBC,K’s fellowship hall
  • All materials provided
  • Join us and be blessed

Hope Center Volunteers

Contact me at home or at Hope Center to schedule  your day/hours.  The number at Hope is 247-2235.

Bible Study – We studied Dorcus yesterday.  The challenge is for each of us to be more and more like her. (Acts 9: 36-42)

Baptist Press –   bpress@sbc.net via dbmsgs.us 

‘Kept here for His glory,’ Abedini writes   

http://www.bpnews.net/43443/kept-here-for-his-glory-abedini-writes

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

 

Thank-you for checking this site and for praying.  Join us for craft day if you can.  Be in the church of your choice Sunday.  Us the other days to “Do Something!”.

Anna Lee

Friday

“There is no fear in love,

but perfect love casts out fear.

For fear has to do with punishment,

and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

~1 John 4:18, ESV~

 

Hope Center – Yesterday was our busiest day yet!  We had many volunteers (Amite, Roseland, East Fork, New Zion, and Kentwood, but it varies daily) and more visitors than we had had all week until then put together.  Our sales were greater.  We could have sold some furniture that was donated a dozen times.  People are looking for furniture and appliances.  Two examples of needs met were:

  • People who had been burned out and were new to our community received information and a map about how to get to a church local to them along with times of the services Sundays in addition to what they selected from the store.  They still need a bed for an older lady to sleep in rather than a blow-up mattress from which it is hard to get up.
  • One lady who did not have gas to her house was able to find an electric skillet.  She is is need of an electric burner now.

I cannot encourage you enough to get “plugged in” for the blessings that abound there!  I’m so thankful for each day I have been able to be there to connect with people and their needs.

 

One of our neighbors passed away yesterday morning.

Dyann Martin Grice

Born: January 11, 1942
Died: September 25, 2014

http://www.mckneelys.com/home/index.cfm?action=public:obituaries.view&o_id=2719397&fh_id=10545

Baptist Press – bpress@sbc.net via dbmsgs.us 

 

See You at the Pole

I know this was done at many of our schools.  I hope it will include all schools one day.  The rally held Wednesday night at the Lighthouse seems to have been well attended.

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “A Matter of Trust” –  http://odb.org/2014/09/26/a-matter-of-trust/
  •  “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;              let them ever shout for joy,                                                     because You defend them;                                                       let those also who love Your name be joyful in You”                                                                                    ~Psalm 5:11~
  • “The Family of God” –  http://hymnoftheweek.net/?p=950

“I’m so glad” I found this site this morning.  I think I will be using it periodically.  I                         hope you enjoy reading this page.

 

I hope you have plans for a great day.  Be sure the plans include doing something that touches and blesses others.

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.”

~Psalm 4:1, NKJV~

 

Unspoken Requests

There’s several requests, both spiritual and physical, I cannot mention at this time.  Please know that most people have a burden they cannot talk about.  Sometimes it for themselves and sometimes for others.  Please pray for unspoken requests.

Homebound Needs

Make contact with those you know of that are homebound.  Ask about their needs and allow God to use you to work in each situation.

See You at the Pole

This is the day students will be gathering at the flagpoles before school to pray.  Thank God our country allows this.  Pray for each teacher and students who gathers.  Encourage any students you know who participates.  Give thanks for adults who lead the way.

Hope Center

Hope is having more and more customers.  There were a number of volunteers yesterday including some for the first time.  They said it was a wonderful experience and smiled as they talked about the excitement of working together for a common purpose.  Several churches were represented by the volunteers.

We had new customers who left happy and satisfied they had made good purchases yesterday.  Each of them said they would be back.

I talked with a local representative of Red Cross yesterday and learned of ways they can make referrals to us and how we will be able to add some of our services to those they provide.  Friends in the right places are joining in even if they are not members of our 29 churches in our association or even Baptist.

God is working through this ministry daily.  We began week two of operation yesterday.

Baptist Press –   bpress@sbc.net via dbmsgs.us 

Devotional, Scriptures, and Songs

  • “The Language of Whistling” –  http://odb.org/2014/09/24/the-language-of-whistling/
  • I will whistle for them and gather them,                                                 for I will redeem them.                                                                                                                                            ~Zechariah 10:8~                                                 Hope we have as an anchor of the soul,                                                   both sure and steadfast.                                                                                                                                           ~Hebrews 6:19~
  • “Whispering Hope” –  http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/i/whisperh.htm                     “Whisper a Prayer in the Morning” –  http://www.hymnlyrics.org/hymns_children/whisper_a_prayer_in_the_morning.php

The theme of our Georgia Barnette Offering this year is “Do Something”.  I think that is good advice.  You only reap the benefits when you put action to the works of the theme.  Don’t miss the blessings God has planned for you!

Anna Lee