Category: Praises, Requests, & Updates

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,

‘I am the light of the world.

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,

but have the light of life.’”

~John 8:12, NKJV~

Chloe Neyland is back to being able to sit up.  Pray for her continued progress.

Mike Neyland’s health problem can be treated with medication.  Thank God that is all that was found.

Earlo LaBauve is now able to discontinue dialysis.  Thank God for his progress.

Smiley Conerly and Keith Allen are both seeing doctors for back issues.  Pray for their return to better health.

Jimmy Schwartz continue to not feel good, but he made it to Sunday School and church yesterday despite his problems.

Sherry Simpson is doing well following her surgery of a week ago.  If all continues to do well, she should be released to come home either today or tomorrow.  Thank God for the success of this recent surgery.

Andy Taylor shared a wonderful testimony about God’s faithfulness yesterday.  His second wreck caused him to have his vision checked with led to surgery. He is now able to see well enough to read after six years of very limited vision.  What a miracle!

Landon Estay shared the story about this family with me before the baby’s birth.  I know you will be praying for them as you read what has happened in their lives.  I suggest you begin at the bottom post and read to the present.  Prayers for this family are in order.  You’ll see that as you read.

http://www.thepaulfamilyjourney.blogspot.com/

Thought for the Day: Signs you’re not reading your Bible enough

Someone has composed the following “Top Ten” list of signs you may not
be reading your Bible enough:

10) The Preacher announces the sermon is from Galatians….. and you
check the table of contents.
9) You think Abraham, Isaac & Jacob may have had a few hit songs
during the 60’s.
8) You open to the Gospel of Luke and a WWII savings bond falls
out.
7) Your favorite Old Testament patriarch is Hercules.
6) Your favorite Bible verse is “Cleanliness is next to
godliness.”
5) You become frustrated because Charlton Heston isn’t listed in
either the concordance or the table of contents.
4) Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, you demand:
“Who gave you this stuff?”
3) You think the Minor Prophets worked in the quarries.
2) You keep falling for it every time when the preacher tells you
to turn to First Condominiums.

And the number one sign you may not be reading your Bible enough:

1) The kids keep asking too many questions about your usual bedtime
story: “Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors.”

It’s hard to over-estimate the importance of reading and studying the
Bible. God’s Word is our source of spiritual nourishment, our light
in the midst of a dark world, our mirror to see what needs to be
corrected in our lives. And yet, it is so easy to let other things
get in the way and interrupt time we have wanted to dedicate to Bible
reading.

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psa.
119:97).

Have you read your Bible today?

Have a great week!

Alan Smith
Boone church of Christ
Boone, NC

Have a marvelous Monday!

Anna Lee

 

Lisa Watts, the Ponchatoula bride-t0-be who was sick earlier in the week, was well and became a bride last night.  Thank-you for praying she would be well by the time of the wedding.

Sarabeth Simpson

Please pray for Sarabeth Simpson as she will have her tonsils and adenoids taken out on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at North Oaks Outpatient Center in Hammond, La.
Thank you,
Marty & Gretchen, Micah & Sarabeth Simpson

Jadon’s Story

Yes I started taking steps yesterday. I can take about 5 steps. I get so excited and start going to fast. I have to learn to slow down a little and then I will be walking everywhere. My mommy and daddy are so proud of me. They never thought that i would progress this fast after surgery. I’m only 9 weeks post surgery and I’m saying about 50 words. The best part about me talking is I’m starting to use the words without my mommy having to say it first. I’m also saying people’s names when I see them. Today we stopped at my papa’s funeral home and as soon as mommy got me out the car I was saying papa. I knew he was in that building. I’m doing things that my mommy and daddy didn’t know if I would ever be able to do. It’s amazing!!!! We thank God everyday for what he has done.

Pray for the people of Afghanistan.

http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=10512&LanguageID=1709&cid=imbel

Thought for the Day: How to treat others

A young lady named Sally relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, whom we’ll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into class and knew they were in for another fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry . . .and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.

Sally’s girlfriend (on her right), drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of Brother Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus….

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out.

Brother Smith said only these words, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. The students remained in their seats even after the bell rang, then slowly left the classroom, tears streaming down their faces.

(author unknown)

May the story above serve as a reminder that our attitude toward Jesus Christ is demonstrated in the way we treat people around us.

Have a great day and a great weekend!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

 

May this Lord’s Day be the best day of your week!

Anna Lee

I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.”

~Pslam 63:4, ESV

Please continue to pray for Mr. Kenneth Felker and Mr. “Cete” Dillon.  They are not feeling their best.

Pray for the missionaries who were commissioned this week in Lake Charles.  Pray for them as they move and adjust to their new environment and for the extended family members who will remain stateside.  Most importantly, pray for those whose lives will be touched and changed because of the missionaries’ efforts around the world.

There have been a number of deaths recently.  Pray for the families as they go through the grieving process on their own time schedule.

Go out of your way today to encourage someone.  You might spend some time listening to them, pick up in their yard, cook a meal, invite them to church, or any number of other things that are appropriate to the family’s needs.  You’ll be blessed as much as they will be.

Thought for the Day: Not enough chairs

The new preacher loaded his car with his large family and visited an old deacon on the farm. After the introductions there was an awkward pause as the unexpected guests looked for chairs upon which to sit. The parlor had only two chairs.

“Brother, I don’t believe you have enough chairs,” suggested the preacher.

“That ain’t it,” muttered the old man. “I got plenty of chairs — just too much company!”

Some Christians make it clear they don’t want to spend too much time with other Christians, but how important is our fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Living in a hostile environment, we need the encouragement that comes from those who share the same hopes and goals that we do.

God knew that we would need each other, that the Christian life would be difficult if not impossible to live in isolation. That’s what the church is all about. The early Christians certainly recognized the value of being together:

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (Acts 2:46, NIV)

Take time today to spend a few moments with a fellow Christian, encouraging and being encouraged. Just be sure to have plenty of chairs ready!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Thanks for praying!

Anna Lee

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

~Matthew 1:29-30~

 

Thought for the Day: The trouble with bragging

A North Carolina farmer was talking to a Texas rancher. The Texas rancher was bragging that his spread was soooooo big, that he got in his pick-up in the morning and didn’t reach the end of his spread until nightfall.

The North Carolina farmer replied, “Yup, I had me a pick-up like that once.”

That’s the trouble with bragging — no one seems to appreciate it as much as we do! But how will everyone know how important we are unless we tell them? So we tend to focus on ourselves — we talk about what we have accomplished, we talk about who we know, we talk about what we have just bought.

Can I offer a suggestion? Just for today, forget about yourself and focus on someone else. Take an interest in what someone else has accomplished, or better yet, take an interest in a problem that someone else is experiencing.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5)

But, if you do this, won’t others fail to realize just how important you are? Perhaps. But, more likely, they’ll recognize true greatness in your humility.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

There are 1.7 billion lost people in the world.  New IMB missionaries were commissioned in Lake Charles last night.  They will do their part, but can’t win the world without our help.  Do your part or it won’t get done,

Anna Lee

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

“You make springs gush forth in the valleys. . . .

You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate. . . .

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,”

~Psalm 104:1a,10a,14a,16a, ESV~

Today, be alert to the rain and possibility of bad weather.  Do something to help/comfort someone nervous/unprepared for bad weather.

 

Don’g forget to prepare your health kits for migrant workers.  They are due to churches later this month.

 

Thought for the Day: A morning prayer

The following prayer came to me author unknown:

Dear God,

So far today,
I’ve done all right.
I haven’t gossiped.
I haven’t lost my temper.
I haven’t lied or cheated.
I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent.

I’m very thankful for that.

But in a few minutes, Lord,
I’m going to get out of bed;
and from then on, I’m probably
going to need a lot more help.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

I can relate to that, can’t you? Perhaps you’ve even made it till today with your New Year’s resolutions. But you’ve still got 336 days to go! Maybe it’s been fairly easy so far, but from now on you’re going to need a lot more help.

If so, continue with this prayer of David:

“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity….My eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; in You I take refuge.”
(Psalm 141:3-4a,8a)

May God grant you the strength necessary to live for Him in 2001.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Rain doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a good day!

Anna Lee