Praises, Requests, & Updates – Page 364

Thursday

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)~

Debbie Bales’ mother has had several falls and other issues lately. Please be in prayer for Mrs. Goings and the family.

Mrs. “Bill” Hughes is back at North Oaks and is very frail. Please say prayers for her and for “Miss” Anne.

From Laura DeBlanc

Just wanted to let everyone Chloe ‘s surgery was sucessful , however she still needs prayer for a quick recovery! I will continue to update on her progress. Also pray for Lisa , for her health, and strength. Also for her as she is seperated from her family (MIke and Eli, and Max)

Thanks

Laura

Susan Rimes had a procedure to blast her stones this week that will require another round next Monday. Continue to pray for her.

Pray for Mrs. Mickey Cade. She has several problems still and will really appreciate your prayers.

Continue to pray for Andy and Betty Taylor. They have problems from the wrecks that are not totally cleared up yet.

Melissa Johnson is fine and looking forward to a new grandbaby next Monday.

Don and Firma Kay Schneeweiss are also looking forward to a baby, their first grandchild, a girl, next week.

Continue to pray for Billy Carl Strickland and Donna Faye Miller. They both have serious medical issues and would appreciate your prayers.

Don’t forget to remember to pray for Eddie Muse and his family as they care for him.

“Pops” Hilbun (from Debbie Crawford)

Visitation and services for Pops Hilbun will be at Line Creek Baptist Church, not the funeral home.

Heart to Heart with Holley: Who shares your umbrella?

Hello Friend!

The other day an afternoon thunderstorm blew in, cracking and laughing over the autumn-colored hills. I watched the clouds gather and then release raindrops from the hands that spattered the sidewalk.

From a few houses down, two children emerged under an umbrella. They hurried along with smiles on their faces. Each one holding the handle in the middle of them. It wasn’t a storm to be avoided in their lives but an experience to be shared.

That’s how it’s supposed to be, I thought. None of use are meant to walk through the rain alone.

A gentle thunder send them scurrying inside a house but I lingered at the window and wondered…

Why is it so hard for us to go through life’s storms together?

It seems we either tend to carry the umbrella only for ourselves. We become scared or bitter and we’re afraid to let anyone close. It’s hard for us to give.

Or we are happy to offer our umbrella to others while we become soaked. We’re afraid that if we don’t sacrifice so much then we won’t be loved. It’s hard for us to receive.

But Jesus calls us to that middle place. He asks us to take hold of that handle. “Love one another,” he says. One another–that’s two people under the umbrella, giving and receiving.

Ah, yes.

My thoughts clear.

The sky does too.

The children reappear and jump in puddles. Shared joy after the rain too.

And I think I can just see a new bit of sunlight slipping unexpectedly into my day.

xoxo

Holley

p.s. Who shares the storms in your life? {Thanks for sharing mine–I’m so glad you’re here!}

Many of you have shared the storms in my life. I’m so thankful and so blessed!

Anna Lee

Wednesday Midday

The Gamma Knife Surgery Center called and offered me the option of having my surgery on Monday, rather than Friday, next week. I jumped at the opportunity. I am now scheduled for October 31st. God’s timing is always just right! That’s because He sees the big picture that we do not see!

I understand the manhunt is Pike County is over. I know many people will be able to rest easier now.

Wednesday Addition

Joan B. Hagan called this morning. She’s at the old Baton Rouge General in room 322. She was admitted Monday so they can help her get rid of some fluid and keep a watch on her heart. She’s anxious to get back to her home so she can participate in devotionals led by Bro. Mike, her former pastor at Greensburg. Please pray for Joan and for the devotionals that will mean so much to all those living in the home with Joan.

Wednesday

Isaiah 43:2-3

“When you pass through the waters, I WILL be with you;

And through the rivers, they WILL NOT overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you WILL NOT be scorched,

Nor will the flame burn you.

FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD,

THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL,

YOUR SAVIOR;”

(Shared by a former student last night)

Chloe Neyland will be having her surgery at 8:00 this morning. It will take 4-6 hours to repair two holes in her heart. Prayers are requested.

Randy Relan, another former student and the recipient of a transplant, shared this:

Thanks 1,000,000 to everyone for your support. It has been a long journey to which there is no end. People from all over the world have prayed for me and supported me during this most trying time in my life. People I don’t even know have phoned me and offered prayers. Old friends have come to the support of my extended family, and just astounded all of us with their generosity. I want everyone to know that although I realize that my survival is the miracle that is reality, the ultimate purpose of this whole thing is that God wants you all to know that he hears your prayers and has the power to answer. If any of you ever wondered if he was listening, remember what happened with me. Be assured that He is continuing to work on me, and I hope that He is working through me as well.

The manhunt continues, but has moved across the state line into Mississippi. People are beginning to tire of the constant stress, but please stay alert. Day 14 would be a good day for all this to end for innocent residents of the area.

Thought for the Day: God is bigger than your problems

The following incident is reported to have been published by Associated Press a while back:

In Arkansas, a lady named Linda went to visit her in-laws, and while there, went to a store. She parked next to a car with a woman sitting in it, her eyes closed and hands behind her head, apparently sleeping.

When Linda came out a while later, she again saw the woman, her hands still behind her head but with her eyes open. The woman looked very strange, so Linda tapped on the window and said “Are you okay?”

The woman answered “I’ve been shot in the head, and I am holding my brain in.”

Linda did not know what to do, so she ran into the store, where store officials called the paramedics. They had to break into the car because the door was locked. When they got in, they found that the woman had bread dough on the back of her head and in her hands. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded, apparently from the heat in the car, making a loud explosion like that of a gunshot, and hit her in the head. When she reached back to find what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brain. She passed out from fright at first, then attempted to hold her brains in.

They took her to a local hospital, where they treated her, shampooed her hair, and released her.

Sometimes things aren’t nearly as bad as they may seem at the time. Remember back during your dating days, when that special someone broke up with you, it seemed to be the end of the world. Life just wasn’t worth living anymore! But, in time, you came to realize it wasn’t the major disaster you initially thought it was.

I think we do that a lot as we grow up. I don’t mean to trivialize true tragedies we face, but often when things go wrong, our first reaction is to panic and think our world is coming to an end.

When the spies returned from the land of Canaan and told about the “giants” they encountered, the Israelites’ reaction was, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!” (Numbers 14:2)

Only two spies took the attitude, “Our problem is big, but our God is bigger. Things aren’t nearly as bad as they seem.” “Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you….” (Deuteronomy 1:29-30)

Whatever problem you may be facing today, may you do so with the knowledge that however big it may be, our God is even bigger!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Waiting to see how God is going to show himself today!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly

as you teach and admonish one another

with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,

singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

~Colossians 3:16 (NIV)~

From Ashley Raborn

Please keep Sammy Ott in your prayers. They are at MD Anderson this week trying a new drug that will help stabilize his platelet count. They will also perform a bone marrow test. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Pray for Leroy Wilkinson of Amite. He fell Sunday requiring stitches and leaving bruises. He is Momma’s first cousin and was missed today.

Gwen Harper Pedalahole is so much better that she is now at home. Thank-you for praying for this young mother who was so critically sick.

KaLeigh Powers of Kentwood has had her appointment postponed. Pray for the family as they deal with this delay and understanding what is happening with KaLeigh.

Ora Lee Wilson’s sister-in-law is dealing with spreading cancer. Pray for the family as they learn more about her situation.

Today, we celebrated Momma’s life. It was a good day of memories. Each person who came to the funeral home and/or the cemetery brought memories of different connections to Momma and/or to our immediate family. Thank all of you who came, prepared food for us, or send messages. We feel so loved! You helped make today a very special memory for us. We feel so very blessed!

Joel Benson Foster
(January 6, 1936 – October 23, 2011)

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 6:22 p.m. on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. He was born January 6, 1936 in Kentwood and was 75 years of age. He was a U. S. Army Veteran of the Korean War. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. He is survived by daughter, Pennie Gross and her husband, Dale, Clinton; 2 sons, Joey Foster and his wife, Debbie, Amite and Dae Dae Foster, Kentwood; 4 grandchildren, Colby Dale Gross, Micah Joel Gross, Nicholas Reed Gross and Keri Newman and her husband, John; 2 great-grandchildren, Jayden and Bella Newman; step-daughter, Dee Gee Young and her husband, David, McComb, MS; 2 step-sons, David Connely and his wife, Missy, Albany and Chris Garraway and his wife, Sierra, Hammond; 2 step-grandchildren, Breanna and McKenzie Garraway, Rodney Lange, Jr. and Lindsey Bridges; 1 step-great-grandchild, Bentley Bridges. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Connely Foster; parents, Amos and Velma Westmoreland Foster; step-great-grandchild, Jayden Lange.

Thought for the Day: The gold box

The following article comes to me author unknown:

“We often learn the most from our children. Some time ago a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, ‘This is for you, Daddy.’

“He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, ‘Don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside of it?’ The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Oh Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.’

“The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.”

I cringe when I think of the times I have done something similar. Between all the fussing and the disciplining, I sometimes need to stop and remember what a treasure my children are (all three of them!), and how thankful I am to God for blessing me through them.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward.” (Psalm 127:3)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

How are you doing with your “gold box”?

Anna Lee

Monday

“If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him . . .

but if you don’t ask in faith,

don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.”

James 1:5-6 (LB)

Maggie Lee Henson: Doing Good for Others

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

Jadon’s Story: Surgery Update

Alot has been going on since my last post. First, I’m still having seizures and I’m on my full dose of vigabatrin. We did start another medicine. We put me back on banzel. Banzel is the only other medicine besides vigabatrin that has helped me. We thought maybe the two together would help. Well it has help and we actually have more control of my seizures than ever before. I’m having about 60 a day and they are not intense at all. It’s very hard to know if I’m having one or not. Though we are excited about this its still not acceptable to have 60 seizures a day. So my mommy has been calling doctors and talking to them about the surgery. She even talk to a mommy whoes child had the surgery. If you look at the end of the post you will see the questions that my mommy ask Dr. Chugani and the answers he sent. She emailed him at 3:30 one afternoon and he emailed back by 7:00 that night. He is awesome. We do believe that God has sent us to him. When we first started looking for doctors to see my mommy and daddy looked in to going to see him or this doctor in Boston. We went with the doctor in Boston. We were in the hospital and actually met a different neurologist than the one we went to see. We liked him so much that we stuck with him and not the other. And would you know a year later he referred us to Dr. Chugani. That is why we believe it was meant for us to see Dr. Chugani. Of all the neurologist out there, there is no way this is just coincidence. It is definitely a God thing. So what is the plan. We have decided to go ahead and schedule the surgery. We will have our final date by Wednesday of this week. It is looking like it will be sometime in December or January. We will then make a trip to Detroit to update my MRI and to see the neurosurgeon who will be doing the surgery. We could do this the day before the surgery but we need time to discuss our questions and think about them. My mommy and daddy will think, pray, and get lots of opinions before they let anyone cut into my brain. We also talked to our neurologist in Boston. He said that no idea of Dr. Chugani’s is a bad one. This made us feel a little better. He also said that Boston is doing a research study that can tell how much of the motor function has transferred to the right side. They use a machine to put next to the hemisphere. The machine cause the muscles on that side of the hemisphere to move. If both of my arms and legs move we will know if it has transferred. We are in the process of trying to get into this study. We would feel much better about the surgery if we can get this test done. It amazes me the test they can do these days. I’m asking you to pray harder than you ever had for me. I can’t tell you how difficult of a decision this is for my family. We are praying and trusting that God will continue to lead us in the direction He wants us to go. I want all of you to know that we are planning my surgery and doing all the prep work but we may not do the surgery. Everything has to fall into place and we have to feel 100% that this is what God wants us to do. That is why we are asking for prayers, prayers, and more prayers. Thanks for all that you do for me and my family. I love you all and here are the notes from Dr. Chugani: SEE ANSWERS BELOW > Dr. Chugani, > > We recently came to Detroit to see you. My son’s name in Jadon Pailet. > We started Sabril the day after we left your office. It has helped but we > are still seeing about 80 seizures a day. With that said the seizures are > not as intense as they were before Sabril. Since they are not as intense, > Jadon has learned 4 new animal sounds and is crawling a little bit. I > know > the next step is surgery but I have a couple of questions. > 1. I’m worried about him regressing after surgery. My husband and I have > been researching and it seems most children are worse off than Jadon when > the surgery is done. What is the likelihood that he will be worse after > surgery than he is now? RARE TO BE WORSE AFTER SURGERY. IF SEIZURES CONTINUE, SOONER OR LATER IT WILL TAKE A TOLL ON THE BRAIN > 2. I read an article about brain surgery which said you can actually numb > the hemosphere and then check for speech, memory, and motor. Is this part > of the procedure that ya’ll do? THE GRID ELECTRODES THAT WE PUT WILL CHECK FOR VITAL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS MOTOR. THE OTHERS ARE NOT AN ISSUE AT THIS AGE > 3. When are we looking at doing the surgery? WORK THAT OUT WITH SARAH > 4. What part of the brain are we talking about removing? The entire left > hemisphere or only the 4 parts that did not form correctly? I know we are > not going to touch the motor cortex unless necessary. WHAT IS REMOVED DEPENDS ON WHAT THE GRID EEG SHOWS > 5. This is not a surgery question but just wanted to ask. Jadon was > on Banzel. The banzel helped but didn’t control the seizures. We took > him > off banzel because we thought it was causing the other medicine not to > work. My question is does banzel work well with Sabril? I’m just > thinking > maybe we can get some more control if we put him back on the banzel. THE 2 CAN BE USED TOGETHER. TRY IT IF YOU THINK IT MAY HELP. HAVE WE MAXIMIZED THE SABRIL DOSE? HOW MUCH IS HE TAKING AND HOW MUCH DOES HE WEIGH?

Chloe Neyland will be seeing a doctor today to see if she is in good enough health to have the holes in her heart repaired Wednesday. Pray for all involved in the decision making process.

Early yesterday afternoon, my sister Julie told me it was a good day for Momma to go to heaven. I agreed. Then, Julie smiled and told me it was the 29th anniversary of her son’s death. Aaron is Momma’s only descendent that has passed away. I think the timing of Momma’s death yesterday was very appropriate.

Thought for the Day: Giving with love

The following story is told in “The Best of Bits and Pieces”:Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Some time later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor’s bills and hospital expenses.

De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. “Make some good days for the baby,” he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. “Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament.” De Vincenzo nodded.

“Well,” said the official, “I have news for you. She’s a phony. She has no sick baby. She’s not even married. She fleeced you, my friend.”

“You mean there is no baby who is dying?” said De Vincenzo.

“That’s right,” said the official.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week,” De Vincenzo said.

Wow! What a beautiful spirit! I wish I could say that I would have reacted the same way, but I know that I would not have. I would have struggled with feelings of resentment. I would have said, “See if I try to help anyone else again!”

De Vincenzo’s attitude is reminiscent of the spirit that God has shown toward us. Despite mankind taking God’s goodness for granted, despite our repeated failures, God was willing to give not just a token amount, but the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. He did so, not reluctantly or with resentment, but willingly and gladly, knowing that while most would only show disdain for his gift, some would respond in obedience motivated by faith and love.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 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 5:6-8)

May the realization of what God has given motivate you to respond to him, and to reach out to others, with the same kind of love.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

Today is a good day to ….

Anna Lee

Sunday

A generous man will prosper

and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

~Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)~

Sherry Simpson did well in her surgery. Let’s pray for Sherry as she had several appointments in the coming weeks and as she waits to see if the surgery was helpful.

Wendel Rhodus will be preaching this morning at Osyka. Give him soms prayer support whether you attend the service or not.

Thought for the Day: What can I do for you?

It had been a hard winter in the Appalachian area. The snow had piled up

deeper and deeper, the mercury dropped, rivers froze, people suffered.

The Red Cross used helicopters to fly in supplies.

One crew had been working day after day -- long hours. They were on their

way home late in the afternoon when they saw a little cabin submerged in

the snow. There was a thin whisper of smoke coming from the chimney. The

rescue team figured they were probably about out of food, fuel, perhaps

medicine.

Because of the trees, they had to put the helicopter down a mile away. They

put on heavy packs with emergency supplies, trudged through heavy snow,

 waist deep, reached the cabin exhausted, panting, perspiring. They pounded

 on the door. A thin, gaunt mountain woman opened the door and the lead man

gasped, "We're from the Red Cross."

She was silent for a moment and then she said, "It's been a hard winter,

Sonny, I just don't think we can give anything this year."

I don't think the story is true, but it certainly could be. I am convinced

that there are two kinds of people -- givers and takers. And even in dire

times, those who are givers are always thinking about "What can I do for

you?" rather than "What can you do for me?"

Statistically speaking, the group which gives the greatest percentage of

their money to charity every year is the group of people with the lowest

income.

There may be several different reasons for that, but truth of the matter is

(and this is true among Christians as well), the more we have, the greater

is our tendency to hold tight to it. What a great example the Macedonians

are to us:

"...in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep

poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality." (2 Cor. 8:2).

Did you notice that? The group of Christians that Paul held up as an example

of generous giving to those in need were themselves in "deep poverty". Yet

they gave so much that Paul was reluctant to receive the money, until they

implored him "with much urgency" to take their gift.

I look at my own life and see that there are many times when I'm reluctant

to give to others, not because it might affect providing for my needs, but

because it might affect me having the things I want. Like everyone else,

I'm tempted to look out for "number one" and I want to know what you can do

for me. But, considering the example of Christ, Paul said:

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the

interests of others." (Phil.2:4)

"Father, please forgive me. Help me to develop a heart of selflessness and

love for others that constantly seeks to find ways to bless those around me.

In Jesus' name, amen."

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Have a meaningful Lord's Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

~Psalm 23:3b (NIV)~

The manhunt continues east of town. Don’t grow weary of praying for all involved.

Baptist Press

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36390

Thought for the Day: Surely I can’t look that old

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, “Surely I can’t look that old”? An elderly woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name.

Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class some 40-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that she had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, she quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way, way too old to have been her classmate….or was he?

After he examined her teeth, she asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

“Yes. Yes. I did…I’m a Morgan Mustang,” he gleamed with pride.

“When did you graduate?” she asked.

He answered, “In 1959. Why do you ask?”

“You were in my class!” she exclaimed.

He looked at her closely…and then he asked, “What did you teach?”

It’s easy, isn’t it, to look at others our age and see all the changes they’ve gone through — the wrinkles they added, the hair they’ve lost, and not realize that we have changed in exactly the same way? “Surely I can’t look that old!”

It’s easy to do the same thing spiritually. We see the spiritual “wrinkles” in others. We see what’s lacking in their lives that ought to be there. “Surely I’m not that sinful!” And, all the while, they are looking at us, unaware of those problems in their own lives, but they see the same blemishes in our lives!

Jesus didn’t use the imagery of wrinkles and hair loss. Rather, he used the imagery of dust and planks to make the same point.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

Let’s be honest enough to look in the mirror and say, “You know, I really do look that old!” And let’s be honest enough to look into the mirror of God’s Word and say, “You know, I really do have these sins in my life.” Only when we use a mirror on ourselves rather than a magnifying glass on others will we begin to see some development in our spiritual life.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Make time to prepare for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Melissa Johnson is home. Thank God for her improvement.

Please continue to pray for my family. Momma is not doing well.

Sheriff Ronald “Gun” Flicklin
(Died October 21, 2011)

Sheriff Ronald “Gun” Ficklin passed away on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Butner Medical Center, Butner, NC. “Gun” is a resident of Greensburg.

Arrangements will be posted on Monday, October 24, 2011.

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

Friday

“Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air,

for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?”

~Matthew 6:25b-26, NKJV~

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me!”

Gwen Harper Pedelahore

Praisiing God for his healing power. Gwen has been taken off of the ventilator and hopefully, she will be moved out of ICU today and into a regular room. Thank all of you for your many prayers this week and continue praying for her complete recovery.

Keri Harper Wickham (Gwen’s aunt)

Linda B. Williams is home after her surgery. Pray for her recovery to be smooth and uneventful.

Malone Williams has health issues. Tests show it’s not his heart. Pray as more tests are done to identify the problem.

As far as I know the manhunt continues. Please pray for all the people whose lives have been altered so much as they try to live their normal lives or as they join with others trying to locate him.

This is the day I was to have my gamma knife surgery. Pray for the person who is in surgery because their need is much greater. Thank God for a facility that can handle “inoperable” brain tumors.

Baptist Press Selected Reading for Today: No church buildings left in Afghanistan

http://bpnews.asp/?ID=36378

Heart to Heart with Holley: You are Called

In the fictional movie, The Princess Diaries, Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is an awkward teenager enduring the usual difficulties of high school. That all changes the day her paternal grandmother Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) arrives with shocking news. It turns out that Mia is far from ordinary. She is, in fact, a princess and the only heir to the throne of Genovia.

Mia proceeds to get herself into a series of mishaps and embarrassing situations as she seeks to become who she rightfully is already. While we’ll probably never be called to rule a country, we all have a moment when the King of Kings calls us to be a princess in His kingdom. Much like Mia, our initial response may be the equivalent of, “Who, me?”

But our calling isn’t about us. Like Mia, we may not see ourselves as “princess material” but what matters most is the will of our Father.

Even after we’ve accepted God’s offer to be a princess, we may forget our calling from time to time. Imagine if Mia moved out of the palace and lived on the streets. Her beautiful gowns would become dirty, she would have little to eat, and few would guess her real identity. Yet the fact that she was royalty wouldn’t change. Being called is just the first step. Carrying out our calling is a lifetime pursuit.

Living our calling can sometimes be confusing because our culture tends to view “a calling” as synonymous with a vocation. We say pastors are “called” to the ministry. A missionary might be “called” overseas. Yet Scripture talks about our calling in a much deeper way. Being called by God is about who we are not about what we do.

You can carry out your calling as a stay-at-home mom, a CEO, a marketing director, a caregiver, or any number of other ways. What matters most is embracing your identity in Christ and living your faith wherever you are today. As Mia finally discovered, being a princess doesn’t require a castle, fancy gowns, or lavish parties. It only requires a heart fully committed to the king.

Ring, ring.

There’s a call for your heart.

It’s been there since the day you were born.

And it will be there until the day you go Home.

Pick it up, listen closely, and you’ll hear

the voice of Your Father whispering what’s true…

“You are mine.

I made you.

Chose you.

Called you.

That call isn’t about a vocation.

It’s about making a difference wherever you are.

It’s about being who I created you to be.

No one else can take your place.

No one else can answer this call.

I’m so glad you did.

I’ll be right here telling you all you need to know

every day, every step of the way.

I love to hear your voice…

and I love when you listen to Mine.”

–God’s Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman

Make this day, even though it is a Friday, as great as God planned it to be.

Anna Lee