Category: Praises, Requests, & Updates

Tuesday

“Praise be to the Lord,

the God of Israel,

because he has come

and has redeemed his people.

~Luke 1: 68 (NIV)~

 

Please pray for my friend Martha Pevey Drago.  She has another chemo, her second,  today. She has lost all her hair and so hid her husband, Joe.  Her quote included “for better or worse”.  Pray for her today as she goes through chemo.  Also, pray for her granddaughter, Macy Gueldner, who is also having chemo this week.

“Tomorrow I get my second round of chemo! Please pray that all goes well and that side effects are minimal!!! I no longer have any hair! Had to shave it off as it was falling out and also causing discomfort. Very strange feeling but emotionally I think I have handled pretty well! Unbeknown to me, Joe shaved his to support me. He has been a real trooper and really stepped up. I guess this is the for better or worse…..sickness or health part! Lol. Please continue to pray for Macy, she has chemo Wednesday. Also, please pray for three other ladies in this community with breast cancer, Rickie Mullendore, Sharon Hutchinson and Lana Woodard. Lana is a very dear friend of mine and I can not believe we are going through this at the same time!!! Please continue to pray for Koltyn Gafford and his family! There is power in prayer!!! Praise God!!!”

Kai Relan is doing better.  After four or five more days, he may get to leave the hospital for the first time.  I know his family will be so happy and so thankful.

Koltyn Gafford

  • “Our night, nurse said he had a good night didn’t have to be suctioned anymore after I feel asleep which was around 1. She is going gradually ween him off his blood pressure meds. And he is now at 30% O2 with a PEEP of 3. His pupils have remained small all day and throughout the night. His dr. will make rounds starting at 9:00 this morning, so I should an updated report sometime after that. Thank you for all of prayers and continued support.”
  • “Sorry that I haven’t posted much today but, it has been a very busy day here with many many wonderful visitors in and out throughout the day. I can’t thank you all enough for thinking of us during this difficult time. I am extremely overwhelmed by one particular visitor we had to day, thanks to one of my FB friends heartfelt desire to share our post to her page. It hit close to home with a very close friend/church member of hers. He came by to visit and shared with us his testimony of his drowning he had experienced around the same age as Koltyn. He is 33 now and is living proof that God is powerful and works miracles in those who believe in him. I can’t thank him enough for his visit and words of encouragement this afternoon. Thank you Brennan Fitzgerald Lee & Ethan Lee for pointing him in our direction! Continue to keep us all in your prayers because he is still in a very crucial state. He has his ups and his downs all throughout the day. We love you all and can not express how much you all mean to us and all of your prayers, texts, visits, phone calls and sweet comments”
  • “WOW !!!! WE MADE IT KOLTYN WARRIORS !!!! $ 10310.00 IN 24 HOURS !!!! WE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL !!!! I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART !!!! YIPPE !!!
  • “You may be interested in joining the Facebook page, “Prayers for Koltyn“.

Update on Jadon – We have followed “Jadon’s Journey” and been greatly blessed.  I was blessed to see him, his mother, and his brother Sunday.  God is continuing to richly bless them.  They have taken several opportunities to “pass it on” to others.  That’s what they were doing Sunday.  Jadon is one walking, talking miracle.  His family is now is blessing other families like they have been blessed.  My heart is so thrilled to witness all of this!

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Let’s be sure to “live the talk” in 2015 and for the remainder of our lives.  Are we singing and do “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go”?  I think there is always room for improvement.

Anna Lee

Monday Addition

“Ok, Koltyn Prayer Warriors, its 3:30 am on Monday morning , and we have raised another 2500.00 in 6 hours !! We have now raised 7700.00 of the 10,000.00 goal !! Remember, we want to SURPASS THE GOAL BY 12:00 ( Lunch ) on Monday 12/29/14 !!! LET’S ROLL FOR KOLTYN PRAYER WARRIORS !!!”

If you would like to contribute, I can steer you to the proper people.  Call me or message me.  Thanks, Anna Lee.

P.S. According to Koltyn’s dad, the medicine seems to be helping with the swelling in the eye.  Keep praying.

Monday

“For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.   

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the LORD made the heavens. 

Honor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 

Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,

Give to the LORD glory and strength. 

Give to the LORD the glory due His name;

Bring an offering, and come into His courts.   

Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!

Tremble before Him, all the earth.”

~Psalm 96:4-9~

I have requests concerning three of my special church friends.

  • Mrs. Hazel Smith will be having surgery in Hammond a week from today.  Please begin praying for her and her family this week.
  • Mrs. Kathryn Kuss seems to be “under the weather” again.  Please say prayers she will feel better soon.
  • Mr. Frankie Gehringer will be having another procedure.  Please pray this is effective.

Koltyn Gafford

  • We need everyone to pray right now please. They just noticed Koltyn’s right pupil is larger than the other which could me there is swelling and pressure on his brain. They gave him a dose of medicine to help with the swelling and taking him for a CT scan.  Kristin (Koltyn’s mom)

  • My wife and I can’t Thank y’all enough for what y’all have done, I am so overwhelmed that a sweet little boy can bring this much people together, I would never thought this would happen to one of ours I have always seen on Facebook or the news of other kids getting hurt or sick and it would break my heart, so you never know what life brings you, your life can change in a blink of an eye, so don’t take life for granted, love one another, keep god in your life! Thank y’all for the prayers I believe prayers do heal, god is on our team!! We all love y’all! God bless!  Brad (Koltyn’s dad)

    Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

    “Giving the Gospel Traction” – http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatworkview.asp?PageNavID=111&StoryID=13388&LanguageID=1709#.VKEXoMAAs

David worked with Judge Clayton James for many years.  Pray for all those touched by his life as funeral services are held for him this morning at Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton.

Disaster Relief – Pray for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers and others as they continue to work in Columbia, MS where a tornado hit last week.  May our disaster relief workers be able to share the love of Jesus for others as well as their own as the help the people to “pick up the pieces” of their lives.  Also, pray for the safety and health of all those working there.

 

Thom S. Rainer – “Eight Things I’m Praying Will Happen in Our Churches in 2015” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIHZAr0VJbM&src_vid=GtcBURtm5Aw&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_648045

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

 

Pray for the youth of the church who have traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a conference.  Pray their young lives will be molded into a God pleasing form through their experiences there.  Thank God for parents who are willing to accompany them.

I don’t know how you feel, but I was blessed by our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering speakers yesterday.  I hope you were encouraged to support our missionaries through the presentations yesterday.

Anna Lee

Sunday

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

~Psalm 55:22 (NIV)~

 

Koltyn Gafford

Last Saturday morning

Just wanted to update all our Prayer Warriors. Koltyn is stable now. He has a slight temp. O2 has been dropped from 100% to 70% so he is breathing a lil on his own. A second chest x-ray was taken abt 3:30 this morning and they said it looks as though there is a very slight positive change but not much. We’ll take any kind of positive change!! He is resting much easier now. Thank you all for prayers. We are extremely blessed to have such an awesome community & social media family to think of us during such a difficult time. I’m just so ready to hear that sweet lil voice call out to me.

Late last night

Koltyn is continues to slowly improve. They are slowly weaning his ventilator. His blood pressure and pulse remain stable and has not required any increase in medications. He continues to run a low grade temp which is expected under these circumstances. His pupils react to light which is wonderful. He does have some spontaneous movements. We will update you all again in the morning after his doctor makes rounds. Again we appreciate your love, calls, and prayers. Your prayers are working! …the Gaffords, Russell’s and Newman family.

Kai Harris Relan was born Christmas Eve and has needed some special attention.  His parents are Jordan and Mechelle Relan.

The baby spent Christmas in NICU at North Oaks.  He has an infection and will spend about ten days in the hospital getting antibiotics.  He has had a spinal tap to check on the infection possibly moving to the brain, but that was clear.  Now, he has been moved to intermediate care.  The parents thank those who have been praying.  It looks like Kai doesn’t have any big problems.

“RETIRED FORMER JUDGE WILL BE LAID TO REST MONDAY IN FRANKLINTON” (Judge James)

http://www.actionnews17.com/Home/retired-former-judge-will-be-laid-to-rest-monday-in-franklinton-218392

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – “Grateful for Collective Giving” – http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatworkview.asp?PageNavID=111&StoryID=13341&LanguageID=1709#.VJ_vtcAAs

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “A Piece of the Puzzle” – http://odb.org/2013/11/13/a-piece-of-the-puzzle/
  • God has set the members,                                                                                        each one of them,                                                                                                          in the body just as He pleased.                                                                                               ~1 Corinthians 12:18~
  • “Count Your Blessings” –  http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/c/o/u/countyou.htm 

Today, as I count my blessings for another year, I am blessed in many ways.  One is extra special today!  I’m so excited.  The Hatchel family arrived mid afternoon yesterday and Boyd and Jennie will be speaking at FBC, K at 10:30 this morning.  That makes me especially blessed today!

Anna Lee

Saturday

                                On coming to the house,                                                  they saw the child with his mother Mary,                           and they bowed down and worshiped him.                                    Then they opened their treasures                                                       and presented him with gifts                                                  of gold and of incense and of myrrh.                                         And having been warned in a dream                                                       not to go back to Herod,                                          they returned to their country by another route.

~Matthew 2:11-12~

 

The big request all over the Amite area is for Koltyn Gafford, son of Brad and Kristin R. Gafford.  Kristin is the daughter of Kelly Wayne and Teri Chandler Russell, also of Amite.  I’m not sure who Brad’s parents are.  Koltyn. who is two, had an accident in the family swimming pool yesterday.  He’s in Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge.  Prayers are needed and will be appreciated.

Teddi Titus’ surgery went well yesterday.  She’s back at home.  Thank you for your prayers yesterday and in the coming days.

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

  • “Out of Egypt” – http://odb.org/2014/12/27/out-of-egypt/
  • Take the young Child and His mother,                                                                 flee to Egypt.                                                                                                                                                             ~Matthew 2:13~
  • “Because He Lives”

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Operation Christmas Child – Pray today for children around the world who are receiving “shoeboxes”.  Pray that in addition to gifts, they find Jesus.

I trust you put priority on others, family and non-family members, this Christmas season.  That works well all year long.  

Anna Lee

 

Friday

                  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.                                                        ~John 1:14~  

 

Teddi Titus, young daughter of Tedd and Kayla, is back in the hospital and facing surgery this morning.  Please pray for this young family, the surgeon, and those caring for her.

Devotional, Scriptures, and a Song

  • “In the Neighborhood” – http://odb.org/2014/12/26/in-the-neighborhood/
  • The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.                                                                                                                   ~John 1:14~                                                                        
  • “She brought forth her firstborn son,                                                                                                   and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes,                                                                                               and laid Him in a manger;                                                                                                                             because there was no room for them in the inn.”                                                                                                                                                                    ~Luke 2:7~
  • “What Child is This?” – http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/whatcist.htm

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – “Artistic Connection in Sweden”

 http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/lmcoatworkview.asp?PageNavID=111&StoryID=13361&LanguageID=1709#.VJ1RBsAAs

Have a great news of Jesus’ birth and the reason He came.

Anna Lee

Christmas Addition

But the angel said to them, “

Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger.”

~Luke 2:10-12~

 

Macy Gueldner

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner/journal/view/id/549bab6bac7ee95e56089003

From Macy’s grandmother, Martha (who sat by me at Pine Ridge last night and who has been a friend since we were school girls)

Merry Christmas!!! Let us not forget that Christmas is not about the worldly gifts we receive, but about the greatest gift ever given…..Jesus Christ…. King of Kings!!!! It is not a gift you need to unwrap, it is a gift you must accept by faith. If you have never accepted this gift, I encourage you to do so!!!! It will be the greatest gift you have ever received and will last an eternity!!!!

May you center some thoughts today on the reason for this wonderful holiday!  It’s not what comes to you in fancy paper under a decorated tree, but a life that began many years ago for the purpose of providing us an opportunity to have salvation and an eternity in Heaven with the greatest family that ever existed for eternity.

Anna Lee

Christmas Eve Addition

Please pray for Mr. Joe Williams and his family.  “Miss” Othell and all three sons are sticking close and taking care of his every need.

Pray for those facing a first Christmas after losing a loved one.  Be an encourager for them.

Pray for those away from home, family, and all the traditions they have celebrated each season as well as those at home alone at this special time of the year..

 

Christmas Eve

While they were there,  

the time came for the baby to be born,

and she gave birth to her firstborn,

a son.

She wrapped him in cloths

and placed him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

~Luke 2:6-7~

 

Tornado Damage

I’m thanking God for the lives spared when the tornado hit the area of highway 16 and Chicken Farm Road just east of Amite.  These families will have much to thank God for this year.  At the same time, I pray for the families of those lost in Columbia, MS.

Aubrey Stokes’ Obituary

December 14, 1925 – December 20, 2014

http://www.crainfh.com/mobile/obituaries-details.cfm?o_id=2879304&fh_id=13316&forcelayout=mobile#obituaries

Christmas Eve Services

  • Pine Ridge United Methodist Church – 5:00 P.M.
  • Hillsdale Baptist Church – 6:30 P.M.
  • Osyka Baptist Church – 6:00 P.M.

Christmas Service

Spring Creek Baptist Church

  • 6:00 Thursday in new church facilities
  • Silent Lord’s Supper

Baptist Press – bpnews.net

Great articles for the Christmas season!

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Give so this family and other families like them can stay on the field another year to share the gospel message.

http://www.commissionstories.com/africa/videos/view/missionaries-celebrate-christmas-in-west-africa

Devotionals, Scriptures, and a Song

  • http://odb.org/2014/12/23/what-really-matters-4                                                                  ~2 Corinthians 9:15~
  • Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!                                                                                                                                              ~2 Corinthians 9:15~

 

  • http://odb.org/2014/12/24/lasting-peace/
  • He Himself is our peace,                                                                                                                                       who has made both one,                                                                                                                                 and has broken down the middle wall of separation.                                                                                                                                                      ~Ephesians 2:14~

Be sure to invite Jesus into your family time this special day!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

But when the time had fully come,

God sent his Son,

born of a woman,

born under law,

to redeem those under law,

that we might receive the full rights of sons.

~Galatians 4: 4-5, NIV~

 

“For God loved the world in this way:

He gave His One and Only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish but have eternal life.”

~John 3:16, HCSB~

 

Christmas Eve Services

  • Pine Ridge United Methodist Church – 5:00 Wednesday afternoon
  • Hillsdale Baptist Church – 6:30 P.M.

Christmas Service

Spring Creek Baptist Church – 6:00 Thursday in new church facilities

What a blessing!

An electrical fire at Tangipahoa United Methodist Church did no structural damage. The Tangipahoa Church will meet with the Pine Ridge Church Sunday.

What an opportunity!

Many area church collected shoeboxes of gifts for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) and are now collecting funds, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO), to support missionaries and their work.  Missionaries Boyd and Jennie Hatchel will be sharing at FBC, Kentwood at 10:30 on Sunday, December 28th.  They and their ministry, including giving out the OCC shoeboxes, are supported through the LMCO.  You are invited to join us for the service.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering 

“Because You Gave” – a photo essay –http://www.commissionstories.com/asia/interactives/view/because-you-give-chalkboard-gives-insight-to-imbs-work

Baptist Press – bpnews.net

Devotional, Scripture, and a Song

 

But when the time had fully come,

God sent his Son,

born of a woman,

born under law,

to redeem those under law,

that we might receive the full rights of sons.

~Galatians 4: 4-5, NIV~

“For God loved the world in this way:

He gave His One and Only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish but have eternal life.”

~John 3:16, HCSB~

Anna Lee