Louisiana Baptist Message – Page 15

Tuesday

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

~Philippians 1:3-5~

Jadon’s Story: Look at Me

Jadon+standing.jpg

Well I’m doing better now that I’m off the diet. My seizures are staying anywhere from 80-100. I don’t know how the diet was making my seizures worse but it definitely was. We are very sad about this. We really wanted the diet to work. We talked to my neurologist in Boston and New Orleans today. Of course Boston wants us to try Sabril. We have contacted a doctor in Philadelphia that sees patients that are on Sabril. He is a pediatric neuro ophthalmologist. We will probably go see him sometime in the near future. You know my mommy and daddy have to find the best doctors for me. My vision is kinda important though. In the meantime we are going to increase my Banzel. I will let you know how I do with the increase. Developmentally I’m doing some new things. I’m eating finger foods all by myself. I’m also putting weight on my legs. I stood for about 15 seconds yesterday as you can see in the picture. Please continue to pray for me. We really need to get these spasms down. Oh one more very important thing. When my mommy talked to Boston today they said that my CDKL 5 genetic test came back normal. Thank you God for another normal test. They also said that we need to repeat the 3T MRI and long term VEEG monitoring this summer. So we will be traveling back to Boston sometime this summer.

David and I saw Patti Hodstaff Friday. She said Harrell’s nephew from Kenner had been killed in Afghanistan. Please be in prayer for the family and all other families who have had to face such a loss.

Thought for the Day: Lessons From Prison

These are some of the frivolous lawsuits filed by convicted prisoners across the United States (which are subsidized by taxpayers).

~ An inmate, calling himself a sports fanatic, complained that, as a result of cruel and unusual punishment, he was forced to miss the NFL playoffs — especially the “classic ” between Miami and San Diego, San Diego and Pittsburgh, and Dallas and San Francisco. (Arkansas)

~ An inmate complained because his meal allegedly was in poor condition. He claims his sandwich was soggy and his cookie was broken. (Brittaker v. Rowland)

~ An inmate who murdered five people sued after lightning knocked out the prison’s TV satellite dish and he had to watch network programs, which he said contained violence, profanity, and other objectionable material. (Jackson v. Barton)

~ An inmate sued to be given Reeboks, Adidas, Pony, or Avia hightops rather than the inferior brand sneakers issued by the prison. (Brown v. Singletary)

~ An inmate sued for not receiving his scheduled parole hearing, though he was out on escape when the hearing was to be held. (Young v. Murphy)

~ An inmate sued because he was required to eat off of a paper plate. (Procup v. Strickland, et al)

~ An inmate sued because he didn’t like his mail being stamped in a way that indicated it was being sent from a state prison (California)

~ An inmate who was a murderer sued for $25,000, claiming a “defective” haircut resulted in lost sleep, headaches, and chest pains. (New York)

We get quite a different picture of a prisoner in the New Testament by the name of Paul. While he wasn’t afraid to demand his rights (Acts 22:25; 25:11), neither was Paul one to whine and complain and mope while in prison (and he hadn’t even committed a crime!). Listen to this positive statement which came from Paul’s pen as he sat in chains:

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly….. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:12-14, 18b).

This passage is an encouragement to me in those times when it seems that life is treating me unfairly. If Paul could maintain such a positive spirit and joy in the midst of such difficulty, surely I can do the same. There is much to be thankful for!

“Father, help me to truly understand that what matters most in life is not being comfortable, being stress-free, or even being treated fairly. What matters most is that I am living in a way that brings you the glory and draws others around me closer to you. Please help me to do that. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Continue to be alert to the weather conditions. Help out a friend or neighbor who might not be warm enough.

Anna Lee

Friday

He came to that which belonged to Him

[to His own—His domain, creation, things, world],

and they who were His own did not receive Him

and did not welcome Him.

But to as many as did receive and welcome Him,

He gave the authority (power, privilege, right)

to become the children of God ….

~John 1:11-12 (AMP)~

Stacey Scarle

We went to the Dr today. They did not remove the drains or the stitches. We have to go back Monday. The pathology report was not as good as we had hoped. 3 of 8 lymph nodes had cancer cells so she will have to have radiation. Please continue to pray for her as she goes through this process.

Jadon’s Story

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I sure did. It was definitely much better than last year. Last year my brother and I were both in the hospital with RSV and my brother had pneumonia so this Christmas was much better. I went to my Mar and Paw’s house Christmas eve. After we opened presents and ate we went to Paw Paw Ike’s house. I even watched fire works. Can you believe I liked these? They are so loud and I was laughing and having a great time. I left a picture of me watching the fireworks. The other pictures are of Christmas morning. I love my new car and I liked the paper the best. After we had Christmas at our house we went to Aunt Rae Rae’s house in New Orleans. Uncle Michael cooked lunch for us and we got to see my Mimi and her side of the family. It was really a great Christmas. Now on to my seizures. We have noticed a little decrease. I’m having about 100 seizures a day. Yesterday morning I woke up and only had 32 by lunch. Well after lunch I had a cluster of 60. Yes VERY upsetting and disappointing. Today I’ve already had about 40 and it’s only 8:00. My seizures are so unpredictable and so random. We have done nothing different the last two days but my seizures are so different. Basically we celebrated me only have 32 yesterday morning and then the disappointment but we will celebrate the good times even if it’s followed by disappointment. I got my new meals from Boston and feeding time is much easier. I now each a meat and then a baby food vegetable or fruit. I love eating them and the portion size is much better. We so wish we would have been able to do this two months ago. I also got my new stuff from my herbologist. I started it yesterday so I will let you know how I do on the new stuff. I have gotten the ok from our dietitian to use these supplements so we know they are not messing up the diet. I gotta go because I have blood work today to make sure my carbon dioxide level is better. I will update you very soon. Thanks for praying for me!!!

Mr. Earl Dees

Mr. Earl is now home and continuing to improve. Pray for him as he recovers from his surgery last week.

Mark your calendar.

Mug & Muffin

FBC, Kentwood

Saturday, January 8th

10 A.M.

Ladies from 5 – 105 are invited.

Baptist Press Stories for Dec. 30, 2010

Take time to read some recent releases from Baptist Press.
—————————————
‘Black Christmas’: Nigerian pastor, church members slain
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34347

Poll: Many Americans still reject evolution
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34348

Stroke survivor finds beauty in suffering
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34349

Grammys to honor George Beverly Shea
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34350

Iraqi Christians mark somber Christmas
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34351

FIRST-PERSON: 12 spiritual tips for 2011
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=34352

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, “I hear a cricket.”

His friend said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”

“No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said, “I heard a cricket.”

“That’s crazy,” said the friend.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.

“That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!”

“No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”

“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”

“Yes, it’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

“See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what’s important to you.”

What’s important to you? What do you listen for? Are there times that you fail to listen to God or see what God is doing in your life because you are focused on other things that are more important to you?

Jesus said, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matt. 13:15-16)

Father, we pray at the beginning of this new year — amidst all the distractions of the world all around us, may our ears always be open to your voice, and our eyes open to your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Have a great ending to 2010!

Anna Lee

Saturday

After Herod died,

an angel of the Lord appeared

in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,

“Get up, take the child and his mother

and go to the land of Israel, f

or those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

~Matthew 2:19-20 (NIV)~

From Cheryl Hughes Green:

I would like to give you a praise report. About 3 months ago I was told I had glucoma and pressure in both eyes. The doctors had some test done and people were praying for me. I saw a specialist yesterday and they told me that all the pressure is gone and no signs of glucoma. What a awesome God we serve.

Sister in Christ,

Cheryl

Mrs. Katherine Sanders is continuing to improve. She will stay in the hospital through the weekend. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Today: Mug & Muffin at FBC, Amite at 10 A.M.

Tomorrow: Missions March at FBC, Kentwood at 10:30 A.M.

Tomorrow Night: Children’s’ Musical at FBC, Kentwood and at East Fork Baptist Church

Mr. Keegan Zachary, husband of Mrs. Georgia Gaines Zachary, passed away. Please be in prayer for the family.

THE BREVITY OF LIFE
The court jester was overcome with grief. His world was at an end! For a long time he had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called upon him. But in a moment of thoughtlessness he had displeased his ruler who had ordered that he be put to death.

“However,” said the Caliph, “in consideration of the merry jests you’ve told me all these years, I will let you choose how you are to die.”

“O most generous Caliph,” replied the jester, “if it’s all the same to you, I choose death by old age!”

I suppose, if given a choice, that’s the choice all of us would make. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), though, that choice is not ours to make. We know (all too well) the fragile nature of life. And perhaps it is for the best. If we were guaranteed 90 years on this earth, we would be mighty tempted to wait until the last year or so to get serious about God (just like putting off those term papers in college!). With a realization of the uncertainty of life, we recognize the need to be prepared at all times.

“LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” (Psa. 39:4-5).

May you be prepared for the joys that await when this life is over!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Make today a better day for someone else!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

“I waited patiently for the LORD;

and He inclined to me,

and heard my cry.”

~Psalm 40:1~

Jadon’s Story

I’m updating from my phone so hopefully this works. I was admitted to
childrens hospital to start iv medicines to help lower my seizures. I
don’t know how long we will be here. The neurologist said probably a
couple of days. I’ll keep you updated. Please pray for me.

Please pray for Rev. Gray Wieborg who is recovering from colon surgery. Pray for his family as they help nurse him back to good health. Bro. Gary is a former pastor of Roseland Baptist Church who is now serving in Bratt, Florida.

Jon-Michael Williams has been moved to Children’s Hospital. Please continue to pray for him, his family, and his friends.

At 11:00 A.M. today, the senior adults of FBC, Kentwood will be treated to their annual Christmas lunch at the church’s fellowship hall.

Lottie Moon

Click on image to enlarge

Lottie (Charlotte) Moon

(b. Viewmont, Albermarle County, Va., Dec. 12, 1840; d. Kobe, Japan, Dec. 24, 1912). Missionary in Tengchow and Pingtu, China, for nearly 40 years; instrumental in instigating first Christmas offering, 1888. She was educated at Female Seminary at Botetourt Springs (later known as Hollins) and at Albermarle Female Institute, Charlottesville. She was converted in the spring of 1859 in a meeting by John Albert Broadus, then pastor at Charlottesville. She taught at Danville, Ky., and Cartersville, Ga. She volunteered for missionary service in Feb., 1873, in response to a sermon on the text, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest,” and she was appointed to China, July 7, 1873, by the Foreign Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention. In 1888 she wrote to the Baptist women of the South, pleading for reinforcements. The first Christmas offering in 1888 provided three additional missionaries. She spent 14 years in China before taking her first regular furlough. Toward the end of her days, she suffered with her Chinese people in the terrible famine. She gave all she had. In the time of deepest trials she wrote, “I hope no missionary will be as lonely as I have been.” Literally starving, she grew steadily weaker. Before Christmas, 1912, Cynthia Miller, faithful nurse, started back to America with Lottie Moon; death came to the frail missionary, Christmas Eve, while the ship was at harbor in Kobe, Japan. The present Christmas offering for foreign missions, sponsored by the W.M.U., is named for Lottie Moon.

Biographical Sources:
Allen, Catherine. The New Lottie Moon Story, 1980.
Lawrence, Una Roberts. Lottie Moon, 1927.
“Lottie Moon.” Shapers of Southern Baptist Heritage pamphlet series. Southern Baptist Historical Society.
Archival sources in Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives.
Moon, Lottie. Missionary Correspondence. AR. 551-2.

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“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

CaringBridge

Read about Callie Cole’s new location and pray the therapy helps.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/calliecole/journal?jid=5774070

Mr. Billy Dean is doing better. He has been transferred to a regular room. Please keep him in your prayers a little longer.

Pray for Jennie and the children as they return to Kentwood today.

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/

Baptist Message

http://www.baptistmessage.com/

Have a great day of preparation for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

Jesus said,

“You can tell what they are by what they do.”

~Matthew 7:16 CEV~

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Wednesday, June 30, 2010

“’She will be given a wedding dress made of pure and shining linen. This linen stands for the good things God’s people have done.’ Then the angel told me, ‘Put this in writing. God will bless everyone who is invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb,’” (Revelation 19:8-9a, CEV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, celebrating weddings with you.

In May 2007, a Bihari believer S married another Bihari believer forming what is thought to be the first marriage of Bihari Muslim-background believers in India. S’s husband is going to go work in the United Arab Emirates, leaving S and their 2-year-old son in India. Many husbands make such a move to provide better incomes for their families. Still, the separation can be a great hardship on a family. The work contracts usually require two years abroad before the worker can return home. Please ask the Lord to provide other believers to encourage and edify S and her husband.

The Swirl people of East Asia are now celebrating the first-ever Christian wedding among their people group. All the new believers are very excited about the response of the 200 people who heard Scripture for the first time during the ceremony. Many of these 200 said that they were very moved by the service. The Holy Spirit has opened the hearts of the people–one young man has already believed!

Mr. C was always very defiant when the new believers tried to share the story of Christ. When they would start to speak, he would rise to his feet and sing a song that glorified self-reliance. Since the wedding, he has been asking questions about the Christian faith, saying, “That was the most meaningful wedding I’ve ever seen. Christians are good people.”

* Please pray for Mr. C, asking that the Holy Spirit will reveal to him that yes, there is a Savior of the world.

* Ask God to bless these young couples and help them model Christian love to others.

* Give humble thanks for the coming wedding feast of the Lamb.

This may be of interest to some of you.

http://worldsoccerjourneys.com/features/alternatives-to-gang-life/photo-gallery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WorldSoccerJourneys+%28World+Soccer+Journeys%29

Jesus Knows What You’re Going Through

http://worldsoccerjourneys.com/features/alternatives-to-gang-life/photo-gallery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WorldSoccerJourneys+%28World+Soccer+Journeys%29

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Anna Lee

Saturday

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere,

lifting up holy hands,

without wrath and doubting.”

~1 Timothy 2:8~

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 President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar (island off southeastern coast of Africa).

BOZO OF WEST AFRICA (BOH-zoh). “During our last visit to F-village, for which you have been praying, the gentleman who had quietly asked many questions in the privacy of our hut sought us out again,” writes a Bozo Team member. “This time, he boldly came to our group and asked for prayer for healing. He had developed an infection over his eye, resulting in a large cyst. We gently laid hands on this friend and prayed to the Great Physician for healing. The next day, not seeing much of a difference, we offered a ride to the nearest doctor. “No,” he responded. “The prayers of the Christians work. It is already starting to feel better.” Praise the Lord that God is showing His power in amazing ways to this man and that the man is willing to give the glory to our Father!”

WESTERN PUNJABIS OF PAKISTAN (pun-JAH-bees). Give thanks that in answer to your prayers, God has opened doors among university students across Lahore in different avenues in the past year. One avenue involves a team member’s teaching at a local university. After the final exam this month, one student commented to this team member, “Since I was a kindergartener, I have been taught to work hard and make lots of money, and then I will have a nice car, a big house, etc. For the first time in my life, one of my teachers (the team member) has told me that it is more important to love God and live to please Him all my days. I learned in this class that we should ‘Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.’ Thank you for teaching me about really important things in life.” Thank you for making this work possible. Please continue to pray for students across Lahore to see that truth is found in Jesus Christ!http://www.go2southasia.org/

CaringBridge

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

Smith, Jessie M.

A resident of Kentwood died at 12:02 a.m. on Friday, April 2, 2010 at Southeast Regional Medical Center in Kentwood. She was born December 16, 1916 in Gulfport, MS and was 93 years of age.

McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.

KneEmail

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

Mike Benson, Editor

LET’S CONSIDER THAT prized trophy or treasured car…

Would you consider leaving it outside in the open, exposed to the elements of nature, animals, dirty-fingered kids, and inconsiderate neighbors? Probably not. More likely you would shield it from these elements. You might make sure it has a special place in the garage or on an out-of-reach shelf. You would likely cover it with glass and polish it often, or park at the far end of the parking lot to avoid dings in your doors. You would do your best to protect your treasure.

Do you best to shield and protect your spouse from things that may be harmful to him or her. This may mean providing adequate housing and a safe car to drive. It may mean standing up against those who may be cutting your spouse down (even if they are your family). It may mean walking together in a dark parking lot or hold him or her close during a storm. Maybe it means protecting your spouse from negative aspects of yourself (i.e., mean words, irresponsible behaviors) by working hard to overcome those behaviors. As you focus on treating your spouse like the priceless gift that he or she is, many of those negative aspects of yourself will disappear. Yes, you can control these. You probably already do when you are at work, church, or a new acquaintance’s house. But it seems the more comfortable we feel with someone, the more we let down these controls. Don’t let comfort do away with appropriate control. All of these positive behaviors are protective in nature and will help your spouse feel treasured by you. (Debbie L. Cherry, Discovering the Treasure of Marriage, 72-73).

“Love always protects…”

~1 Corinthians 13:7~

That’s why Jesus went to the cross. He was protecting us in/for eternity!

Anna Lee

Saturday

Do your own work well,

and then you will have something to be proud of.

But don’t compare yourself with others.

~Galatians 6:4 (CEV)~

Continue to pray for Bro. Butch as he prepares for surgery Monday.

Adrianna Cavanaugh – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/adriannacavanagh

Finally some positive news, thanks to the Lord above who is watching over us!!

We are not giving up hope yet. Our beloved doctors in New Orleans are not giving up hope yet, either. We drove to Touro for radiation today, which will alleviate A drianna’s back pain and possibly shrink the tumors on her left lung, and compressing on her heart muscle. We will do 7 days of radiation that will only last about 5 minutes and will not cause any damage to her organs.

Praying for another treatment that can give us the most time with our daughter as possible, without causing her to suffer….

We are taking one day at a time, but are more than ecstatic to think that we have more time with our sweet Adrianna than we had thought.
Thanks so much for all of you who gave us such a heart-warming homecoming. From the crowd at the airport that watched our Red Rocket plane land, to the line of people on the highway near our home, to the family and friends who welcomed us at our house….we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Praying every minute of the day for a miracle!!

So happy to be given some hope, and to think that Adrianna will not suffer. Yet we know we need to be carefully optimistic. We don’t want to put her through anything she can’t handle.

One day at a time….God will lead us in the right direction.

Feeling truly blessed and believing in miracles with all our might,
Stephanie, Joe, & Adrianna

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12634596d11d3f09

You can read more about Haiti through the prespective of missionaries and other interesting topics if you use the like above to go to the Baptist Press site.

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

ON MARCH 10, 1974, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, who had been a Japanese lieutenant in the Philippines during World War II, became the last Japanese soldier to surrender…

The war ended in 1945, but Onoda hid in the jungles of the island of Lubang for almost three decades, sucessfully avoiding all efforts to find him.

The Japanese and Philippine authorities, aware of his presence, repeatedly broadcast reports of this war in the Japanese language and left Japanese newspapers on the beach where he could find them. But Onoda thought all these were ruses to lure him to surrender, so he continued his one-man war.

Onoda’s situation is similar to that of the sinner’s condition before God. Christ’s death on the cross does not automatically bring him peace and save him anymore than the peace concluded between Japan and the Philippines brought peace to Onoda. Onoda had to believe that peace had been made, then he had to surrender and accept it. In a similar fashion today, Jesus makes peace available to us, but we can only enjoy it when we surrender to the Lord, and and then accept it in faith and obedience to the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 5:8-9). Arnold Wallenkampf

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle way of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” Ephesians 2:14-15

May your weekend be a time of peace and love….

Anna Lee

Saturday

But the basic reality of God is plain enough.

Open your eyes and there it is!

~Romans 1:19 (MSG)~

Mary Criswell sent this message.

Wayne Criswell is back at home and doing well. Thanks for your prayers.

CaringBridege

Today, many people are again traveling so they can be at home/church for the weekend and back to their regular schedule/work on Monday. Be extra careful as you travel.

Margurite Wilkinson Travis Vernon

Vernon, Margurite Travis McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, at 1 p.m.

Published in The Advocate on January 2, 2010

For those of you who participated in Operation Christmas Child and those who are considering participating next year, please read http://www.baptistmessage.com/articledetail.php?articleID=e0bb2084d3cc581256d7c5331ed76e39

Thank-you for your participation. If you did not participate, pray about participating next year.

Members of Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in Baton Rouge unload some of the 12,317 shoeboxes collected at the church for Operation Christmas Child.

Undeserved

Jesus knock2.jpg A MAN IN his sixties was walking down the street of a modern subdivision…

In his hand was a scrap of paper from a doctor’s office with a name and address scribbled in pencil. As the man approached the house, he waded the paper and pushed it into his pocket. He made his way to the front door, pushed the doorbell button, and waited anxiously.

Earlier that day, the man had been reading a medical journal in a doctor’s office wiating room when he came across an interesting article about organ donation. He was reading how so many people were on waiting-lists for kidney transplants, and how some would surely die waiting. As he closed the journal, still waiting for his name to be called, he imagined what it would be like too be dying in a waiting room. Right then, he made the decision to donate one of his kidneys.

An hour after asking his doctor for a lead, he was standing out in the cold on the doorstep of a complete stranger. As he herd the door being unlocked from the inside, he was eager to look upon the face of the one who would benefit from his sacrifice. The door pulled open.

“If you’re selling something, I’m not interested.” The first response was automatic. The man inside was middle-aged and appeared somewhat annoyed by his uninvited guest. “No, I’m not selling anything sir,” the older man answered back. “Actually, I guess it might seem odd why I’m here, but you see, I was just out walking and this air is terribly cold, so I thought perhaps you would allow me to step in for a few moments to warm up…” The man inside hesitated for a couple of seconds, glancing back and then sighing with a hint of frustration. “Alright, come on in.” The invitation was cold and half-empty.

The older man stepped into the warm house, and for the next few minutes, he did everything he could to carry on small-talk with the stranger. More than anything, he just wanted a glimpse of who this man was, a peek at the life he would spare. But it soon became evident that this man was ready for his guest to leave. “Sorry, but I’ve got something planned, so I’m afriad you’re going to have to be on your way now.”

The older man generously offered his thanks and quickly stepped back out into the cold. As he walked away from the house, he paused and looked back. Through the large front window, he watched as the man inside plopped down in front of a television and reclined back in his chair. It was precisely at this moment, as he looked upon the undeserving man, that he smiled and said to himself, “This is the man I want to help.”

Why choose to help someone who doesn’t deserve it? When Jesus came to this earth, he voluntarily sacrificed himself to offer us hope — and certainly not because we deserved it. As Christ hung on the cross, He looked down upon an undeserving crowd of spectators and cried, “Father, forgive them…” Thank God that His desire to save the hopeless was not detoured by rejection. Alan Pitchford

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;

yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:7-8

Posted by Mike Benson

Thank-you for praying as you read The Prayer Link each day. Have a great weekend!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Evening

Mrs. Betty Bethel and Lacy O’Brian

Please put mom and Lacey on the prayer list. They are both having kidney problems. Mom has a mojor kidney infection. Lacey’s kidney are porducing too much protein and the doctor dosen’t know why. She fell start taking test next week when she is out of school….
Yours in Christ; Joan Hagan

Pray for Mr. Dick Brennan. He’s hospitalized in Covington.

Pray for the family of Mr. Roy Frazier. He was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Wanzie Williams and Mr. Harrell Sharkey.

Roy Douglas Frazier

A resident of Baton Rouge, he died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. Arrangements are pending with Rabenhorst Funeral Home East.