Praises, Requests, & Updates – Page 463

Saturday

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth.”

~Romans 1:16~

Wayne Criswell and brothers-in-law

Wayne did well with his procedure Friday and will get the results in a few days. The Dr.s feel like this is most likely some scar tissue from an old bout with pneumonia about 30 years ago.

Please add my brothers: Jim Brent who lives in Austin had a biopsy of the prostate on Thursday, and Max Brent who lives in Ohio had back surgery on Tuesday.

Mary Criswell

Callie Cole

Forgot to remind everyone that the Callie’s Mission T-shirts are here. You can look at the shirts on calliesmission.org, and there are several colors and designs to choose from. The sales will go to Callie’s Mission to generate funds for those scholarship recipients selected. There will be three students selected and sent to the uttermost parts this year. Please pray for those interested in applying for the scholarships. They will be writing their essays about their calling to missions, and we all know how difficult it can be to put our hearts on paper.
We are so thankful to all of you who are supporting Callie’s ultimate dream to bring others to the feet of Jesus!!

Love,
Tom and Frances

A Lesson in Pruning

by Dr. Charles Stanley
John 15:1-4

Years ago I lived in Fruitland, North Carolina. It was apple country, and several of my parishioners were growers. When I stopped by to visit one of them, his wife told me that he was in the orchard. So I walked out back to find him mercilessly cutting branches from one of the trees. Without thinking, I said, “You’re going to kill that tree!” He turned around and said, “You stick to preaching, and leave the pruning to me.”

This gentleman and I became friends, and it was from him that I learned about the pruning process. In order to produce an abundant crop of the best fruit, he had to cut as he did. It might look as if the tree was going to die, but new growth would spring from the wounds. Our conversations helped me to understand why the Lord sometimes acts as a pruning
force in people’s lives.

To get a plentiful crop of spiritual fruit, our heavenly Father must remove anything that distracts or deters us from serving Him. The process is often painful. I know I’ve cried out, “More, Lord?” when He has taken the “knife” to me. But the result is always satisfying—I am a better, more accurate reflection of Jesus Christ after God cuts away a fleshly habit or worldly attitude.

Being loved by God does not mean we will be coddled—our comfort is not His primary interest. A grower must prune an apple tree to get a bountiful harvest. In the same way, God must sometimes let us feel pain so He can bring forth greater growth and more spiritual fruit.

Have a special Saturday!

Anna Lee

Friday

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it.

~1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV)~

Chuck Pittman is home and reports that he had a good day yesterday, the best in a while. Please continue to pray for Chuck.

Roger Pittman will be having a procedure at North Oaks this morning. Pray for Roger today.

Butch Reviere is getting rest in Washington Parish. He may come to Kentwood the first of next week. Pray for him as he continues to recover from his surgery.

From Sherry Rosamond

My friend, Lisa Westmoreland’s, mother is in the hosiptal and E would like for everyone to keep her and her mother in your prayers.

APPRECIATING VALUABLE THINGS

The story is told of a man who was sued by a woman for defamation of character. She charged that he had called her a pig. The man was found guilty and fined.

After the trial he asked the judge, “Does this mean that I cannot call Mrs. Johnson a pig?” The judge said that was true.

“Does this mean I cannot call a pig Mrs. Johnson?” the man asked. The judge replied that he could indeed call a pig Mrs. Johnson with no fear of legal action.

The man looked directly at Mrs. Johnson and said, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson.”

Such name-calling is obviously wrong, but Jesus told us there are some people who are “pigs” (and not in the sense of eating too much). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7:6)

There are some people who are “dogs” and “pigs” in the sense that they have no appreciation for things of a spiritual nature. Just as a pig has no appreciation for precious jewelry, so it is that some people have no appreciation for the precious truths of God’s Word.

John MacArthur has written, “There will be times when the gospel we present is absolutely rejected and ridiculed and we will make the judgment to turn away and speak no more, deciding that we should ‘shake off the dust of [our] feet’ (Matt. 10:14) and begin ministering somewhere else.” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Matthew 1-7)

I agree. There are times when those I speak to show such a lack of appreciation for God’s Word. My greater concern, though, is making sure that I don’t have that same attitude.

“Father, I pray that my heart may always be tender and open to the valuable lessons you want to teach me. May I never ‘trample underfoot’ those things which are truly important. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

TODAY’S PRAYER

IMB
JANUARY 29, 2010

“I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing to You among the nations.”

~Psalm 57:9~

HAITI. IMB missionary Dawn Goodwin asks that we pray that they can quickly find locations to set up base camps in Jimani, both on the border in the Dominican Republic and within Haiti itself. Doug Roberts, Sam York and Steve Flook are working hard to make that happen. Intercede for physical stamina for all the Haiti response team and for all the missionaries in the Dominican Republic who are pulling together and working around the clock! The joint Southern Baptist response to the Haiti earthquake launches this coming week with four “strategically selected” medical teams. Four “strategically selected” medical teams are being sent through the Dominican Republic to Haiti, along with two representatives from the Florida convention who will continue to make arrangements for trained disaster relief teams to travel in and out of the country. The death toll has grown beyond our ability to fathom the pain and loss, but we must remain vigilant in praying for those who are suffering infection without adequate medication. Ask God to protect Haitians living in improvised camps from the spread of contagious diseases.

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 Alvaro Colom Caballeros of Guatemala (Central America).

BAMBARA OF MALI (BAHM-bah-rah). Bambara Team members Mitch, Arnett and Steve set out into the African bush, carrying not much more than a GPS device, a pan of cupcakes, and some sleeping gear. They didn’t know where they were going. They didn’t have a plan other than prayer and trusting God to provide them with lodging. Their mission? To find an untouched place to start a new work. In three days, they hit seven villages. True to their culture, the Bambara were hospitable to the strangers in their midst. Mitch, Arnett and Steve were offered a place to sleep each night. Along the way, they gave the traditional gift of respect, cola nuts, to a variety of village chiefs–some warm, some stern. The three sat under the stars and explained the “new religion of Christianity” to some stately elders devoted to another belief system. They ate lots of rice with their hands, endured a blister bug attack, and unwittingly terrified a few children who had never before seen white men. They were looking for a place that was open both to hearing about Jesus and to learning new ways of farming. They write: “Next year, we hope a team of volunteers can restart our ‘Foundations for Farming’ project in a new village, one more open to improved planting techniques. Please pray that God will lead us to choose the right village in which to start work. Pray that He will open hearts there and that the ultimate result will be the birth of a new church. “http://www.gobambara.org/

CENTRAL TIBETANS IN ASIA (ti-BEH-tuns). The traditional celebration of the Tibetan New Year includes many Buddhists rituals. Therefore, as the holiday approaches, many of the Central Tibetan believers will choose not to participate in the festivities, while others may give in to the pressure from family and friends to carry out tradition. Ask the Lord to give Central Tibetan believers creative ideas and God-glorifying ways to incorporate different aspects of their culture into their celebration of the New Year. Pray that they will boldly stand up for Jesus and give a clear testimony of their faith to those who question or even persecute them for not following the Buddhist traditions.

Have a wonderful day today. Make today count for something!

Anna Lee

Thursday Evening

Pete Lee was better today. Please continue to pray for him and his family.
Hugh Wayne Blackmon
(April 28, 1945 – January 27, 2010)

He was born in Evans, LA, was a resident of Belle Chasse, LA and was 64 years old. “Poppa” fought long and hard, but on Wednesday he caught the wings of an angel. Treasured husband of Ruth Reed Blackmon, sisters, B.B. Pelas and Thellis Floyd, brother, Johnny Blackmon. Father of Yvette Blackmon, Larry Blackmon, Brian Blackmon, and Laurie Blackmon Gaeta. Grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of 8. Preceded by mother, Geraldine Blackmon, father, John Blackmon, brothers, Henry and Elmer Blackmon. Celebration of life at New Zion Baptist Church, Hwy 38W, Kentwood, LA, from 7 pm on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 until services at 11 am Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. Services to be conducted by Johnny Blackmon. Graveside services following at Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg, LA.

Wednesday Evening

Pete Lee

I’m sure the family of Pete Lee would appreciate your prayers as they maintain a watch at the hospital.

Adrianna Cavanagh

We are missing our daughter today but so happy to know that she is in a much better place, without any pain, without any cancer! And I truly believe she knows how much she has impacted the lives of all of us she has left behind. I think she is now proud of us, and of what she accomplished in such a short amount of time here on Earth.
Like Adrianna always used to tell us, “I miss you when you’re gone…..” We will forever miss her, but always remember her with a smile and revel at all the beauty, strength, trust, hope, and love she possessed.

Memorial services for Adrianna Kate Cavanagh:
FRIDAY JAN 29TH- visitation at Crain’s Funeral Home in Franklinton from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
SATURDAY JAN 30TH-
Visitation at First Baptist Church of Franklinton from 9:00 am to 11 am.
Funeral and celebration of Adrianna’s life at First Baptist Church at 11 a.m.

With love and trust in the Lord,
Stephanie & Joe, proud parents of our amazing daughter

James “Stacy” Graham, a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend, Stacy passed away on Monday, January 25, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital at the age of 40. He was originally from Amite and had lived the past 13 years in Albany. Stacy was employed with McKesson Corporation for 10 years. He had a heart of gold, full of love and devoted his free time to his wife and children.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. officiated by Rev. Kevin Dunn. Interment followed in Blood River Baptist Church Cemetery in Albany.
He leaves to cherish his wife of 16 years, Denise Quave Graham; two daughters, Taylor Graham and Katie Graham; siblings, Gerald Graham and his wife, Jelaine; one nephew, Hunter Graham; two nieces, Carley and Sara Graham, along with one great-nephew, Kane Graham. Stacy also leaves behind his parents, David and Marsha Stokes Graham; paternal grandparents, L.C. and Faye Graham.
Preceding Stacy in death was his maternal grandparents, Gordon, Sr. and Loyce Stokes.
Condolences and other information are available at www.bgthompsonfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home of Hammond

Billie W. Page
(July 20, 1922 – January 27, 2010)

Died at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, LA. She was born July 20, 1922 to Molton and Edith Watkins in Rising Star, TX. She was 87 and a resident of Amite, LA since the mid-1940’s. She retired from Louisiana Department of Welfare’s Amite office. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Amite since 1952 where she played piano at both the Amite and Independence churches. She is survived by her brother, Edward Watkins, Coleman, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dan Cline Webb and Phinus Page; sisters, Edra Claiborne, Claudia Boggs and Jo Guess; brother, Clifford Watkins. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 1 p.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2010. Services conducted by Rev. Brady Whitton. Interment Kedron Cemetery, Amite, LA.

Wednesday

“But my God shall supply all your needs

according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

~ Philippians 4:19~

Wayne Criswell

Wayne Criswell is having a needle biopsy of his right lung Friday morning, at North Oaks in Hammond. Please pray for him and those doing the procedure.

Thanks,

Chris Wales

Sharla Hodges

Please continue to pray for my cousin as she adjusts to her new home. Pray she will be in rehab soon.

ADRIANNA KATE CAVANAGH, AGE 3

And a resident of Franklinton went to be with God early Tuesday January 26, 2010 at Riverside Medical Center with her family by her side. She fought a courageous battle against cancer for the last ten months. Adrianna was born December 6, 2006 and her three short years on earth were a blessing to all who knew her. She was loved greatly by her family and supported through it all by a wonderful community. Adrianna was full of joy and brave during her fight but she had a unique understanding that God would care for her. She and her entire family felt blessed by the countless prayers from people all around the world. Her faith was peacefully rewarded with mommy and daddy holding her hands as she went to heaven.

Survived by:

Loving parents: Joe and Stephanie Simmons Cavanagh of Franklinton

Grandparents: Reggie and Judy Simmons of Franklinton Brian and Irene Cavanagh of Torrington, CT

Aunts and Uncles: Kristi and Rob Crain of Franklinton Betsy and Jason Labat of Prairieville, LA Brain Cavanagh of Torrington, CT Kate and Keith Bouchard of Unionville, CT Jackie and Wade Wilkinson of Long Beach, NY

First Cousins: Wesley, Andrew and Jacob Crain Jack Bouchard Emma Wilkinson

Also numerous great-aunts and great-uncles and other cousins

Adrianna also had a special real dog that she loved named Finn.

She was preceded in death by her uncle Matthew Cavanagh, Joe’s twin brother. Also her great-grandparents Gary and Josie Stafford, Othar and Maude Simmons, Joseph and Eileen Gormley and Fred and Ellen Cavanagh

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home Friday January 29th from 5 pm until 9 pm. Visitation will continue Saturday after 9 am at First Baptist Church of Franklinton. A funeral service will be held at the church at 11 am with Rev. Luther Stanford and Rev. Jay Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Ellis Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Adrianna’s honor to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans or to bandofparents.org, an organization committed to the research and eradication of childhood cancers.

http://www.actionnews.us/News/tabid/55/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/422/Northshore-mourns-passing-of-Adrianna-Cavanagh.aspx

http://www.actionnews.us/News/tabid/55/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/433/Funeral-services-set-for-this-weekend-for-three-year-old-Adriannna-Cavanagh.aspx

Today’s devotional is entitled Misery and was written by Mike Benson. We’ve all been there. Us the link below to ready the devotional.

http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Count your blessings today!

Anna Lee

Tuesday Evening

Adrianna Cavanagh

Continue to pray for the family. The obituary has not been published yet.

I will post it when it becomes available.

Mrs. Katherine Sanders

“Miss” Katherine is doing a little better. Please continue to care for her.

Pete Lee

Pete continues to develop problems that will hinder surgery. Keep Pete

and his family in your prayers.

Mark Hughes

Mark is out of the hospital and doing well. He will stay in the Atlanta

area for a while.

Tuesday Update

Andrianna Cavanugh

Adrianna is free from all pain. The Good Lord came and retrieved her spirit at 7:41 this morning after long hours of labored breathing. She fought so long and so hard that we were relieved to see her leave for Heaven. Just yesterday afternoon she had told her sweet daddy (at his request), “I love you daddy”, and kissed him.

We ask that, in lieu of flowers that you PLEASE consider giving to Children’s Hospital of New Orleans or to www.bandofparents.org
Band of Parents Foundation
PO Box 335
Dewittville, NY 14728

Funeral arrangements will be available later today at www.crainfh.com.

Joe and Stephanie are doing well, but they called on me to write this entry. Stephanie will write later. As for the four Grandparents, we are also pleased that Adri’s suffering is ALL over with. She fought longer than anyone could have imagined, and in her suffering Joe and Stephanie found that they could let her go. But it is soooo HARD! She was so sweet and special that we cannot understand, though we accept, that she HAD to die. On the brighter side, she entered Heaven in only 3 short years, after ten months of blessing tens of thousands with her sweetness and cheerful ways. You can’t know the half of it unless you were around her all the time. She was the most unique 3 year old I have ever known!She will NEVER be forgotten as long as any of us live.

Thank you for your love and expressions of faith. Reggie/Poppa

The obituary is not available at this time. I will post it later.

Tuesday

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread,

and in prayers . . .

and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Mrs. Katherine Sanders is home again and improving. Keep her in your prayers.

Pete Lee is in ICU still and hopefully will be ready for surgery this week. Please keep Pete and his family in your prayers.

Dr. Landrum Salley

I have major surgery scheduled for Monday. I tend to have a low sodium level, and that could prevent me from taking a general anaesthetic and therefore delay the surgery. It’s to correct an abdominal hernia, which I acquired when all my abdominal muscles were cut when I had emergency surgery five years ago. We will appreciate your prayers. And thanks again for keeping us posted on what is happening in a town where we spent sixteen years and still love

Callie Cole

Good Evening,

Callie is doing well. She has not made any great strides over the past few days but is still responding well to family and friends. It is good to see how her friends have adjusted and can now talk to her and treat her just like they used to. Not sure but this is probably very difficult for them to do. It does my heart good to see them crack a joke or do something to try and get a response out of her, and most of the time it works. Frances works hard with her during the day along with the therapists to keep her mobile and to increase her range of motion as well as working on the swallowing, which is going very well.

There are a great group of guys working on our building project. It has not been the greatest weather for construction but it hasn’t slowed them one little bit. As a matter of fact they are putting this building up faster than I can get what I need to get done to stay ahead of them. The Lord has truely blessed our lives by using people in ways that we could never have imagined. I thank the Lord every day for all of you who continue to lift my daughter and our family up to the Most High. I know that we shouldn’t be, but we are amazed at the prayers offered up on our behalf, and all of the things that people have done and continue to do for us out of love. I ask that the Lord bless each one of your lives and to know how you have blessed ours.

Sunday, Bro. Floyd preached a message from Genesis chapter 39 on Joseph. We were reminded how Joseph remained faithful to the Lord and to himself. I decided to read chapter 37 and also chapter 40 just to jog my memory and the Holy Spirit showed me something else. Joseph was a righteous man. He did almost everything right and yet he was sold as a slave by his own brothers, he was thrown into prison and then forgotten by a man he had helped and left in prison for two more years for no crime at all. Through all of this Joseph remained faithful and the Lord was able to fulfill his purpose through this man because of it. You see, the Lord had a great purpose for the things that happened that no one knew about. Thank you Lord for showing us what we need to see at just the right time.

Please continue to pray without doubt as I know you are.

Tom

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JANUARY 26, 2010
“Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 54:2)

HAITI. For updated information and prayer requests related to the Haiti earthquake, please visit http://www.imb.org/main/pray/ and Ed Cox’s blog, http://imbprayerdir.wordpress.com.

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 Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist of Greenland (northern North America, northeast of Canada).

CHINA. More than 98,500 Chinese students studied in U.S. universities last year. Pray that many of them will receive Christ this year while in the United States as churches, families and individuals open their hearts and homes to these bright young Chinese adults. Pray that Christians in the United States will see this as a great mission field, and will also comprehend the great influence the students may have someday when they return to their homeland.

DUTCH INDIGENOUS OF THE NETHERLANDS. Please pray for a small evangelical church in Holland. From this small church, a group of believers is prayerwalking the city and asking God to bring revival in the land. Recently they discovered a portion of the city with a concentrated amount of occult influence. They have decided to focus in this part of the city for awhile. They ask you to agree with them in prayer that strongholds will be broken and that the truth of the gospel will penetrate the hearts of those who live in this area specifically. Pray also that the occult organizations will be rendered powerless and not be able to influence the lives of those in this area.

Baptist Press News

http://www.bpnews.net/

Welton H. Brumfield, Jr.
(February 25, 1933 – January 25, 2010)

Welton H. Brumfield, Jr. a loving son, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was born on February 25, 1933 and passed away at 5:55 a.m., Monday, January 25, 2010 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Covington. He was 76, a native and resident of Amite.Mr. Welton is survived by his daughter, Becki Brumfield Biandolillo and husband Mike, Amite; a son, Greg Brumfield and wife Nicole, Amite; mother, Mrs. Josephine H. “MerPhinie” Brumfield, Amite; son-in-law, Danny Richardson, Amite; companion, Connie R. Evans, Amite and her granddaughter, Lindsey; 11 grandchildren, Gretchen Ockman and husband, Mike, Jared Richardson, Lindsey Jo Brumfield, Blair Reid, Chelsea Brumfield, Grant Welton Richardson, Gray Richardson and wife Donna, Ashley Brumfield, Blake Welton Brumfield, Sydni Biandolillo and Alexis Biandolillo; 4 great-grandchildren, Keegan Ockman, Kelsey Ockman, Kelton Baugh and Grayson Richardson

Preceded in death by his father, Welton H. Brumfield, Sr.; his wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Eubanks Brumfield; daughter, Laurel “Lauri” Brumfield Richardson; brother, Claude “Hank” Brumfield; sister-in-law, Eleanor “Cricket” Vessier Brumfield; and sister, Sara Frances Brumfield.

Pallbearers are Grant Richardson, Gray Richardson, Jared Richardson, Blake Brumfield, Claude Brumfield & Bryan Brumfield. Honorary Pallbearers are Johnny Peterson, Larry Mobley, Buck Cefalu, John Bush & Ray Fontaine.

Visitation will be at First United Methodist Church, Amite, on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Brady Whitton officiating. Interment in the Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA.

Mr. Welton graduated from Amite High School in 1951 and received his Business Management degree from LSU in 1955. He served as a pilot for SAC in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1958 and returned to Amite. He first owned Brumfield Tractor Co. from 1953 to 1988 and also manager of Brumfield Sales & Service in Kentwood from 1971 to 1978. He became general manager of Brumfield Motor Co. in Amite in 1971 and subsequently dealer in 1975 after the death of his father. He sold this dealership in 1998. During this period he served on the National Dealer Council at Ford Tractor Division and also served as one of five dealers in the country for a two year term on the National Dealer Council for Ford Motor Company. He also served on the board of Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association and was the President of LADA from 1977-78. He has been active in the First United Methodist Church for many years. He has served as Chairman of the Board of his local church, as the First lay President of the Council of Finance & Administration of the Louisiana Annual Conference and its First Lay Chairman for the Board of Pensions of that conference. He also served on the General Council of Ministries for eight years at the national level. He was a delegate to two sessions of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church and four sessions of the Jurisdictional Conference. He has also served as director on the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, LA since 1976. He was elected to board of Central Progressive Bank in 1977 and has also served and is presently serving as a Director for Blossman Bamcshares and recently elected Chairman of the Board.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

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

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

TO BE “SAVED” means to be made safe…

It implies that the unsaved person is in danger. Mark 16:16 speaks of salvation and safety from sin. When the term saved is used in reference to a Christian, it means he is made safe from the guilt and eternal consequences of his sins (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:2; Ephesians 2:15; Titus 3:5). This safety is brought about by God’s pardon, which can be affected in no other way. It means the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). This salvation is equivalent to the promise of pardon for those who believe and are baptized. Many religious people balk at the idea of placing baptism in such a connection with salvation (that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins). However, we must remember that it was Jesus Himself Who placed baptism in this connection. When a mind revolts at any of His words, it is not His fault but their fault. The stubborn heart bears sole responsibility for one’s failure to heed God’s Word. When considering the concept of being saved, one must take into account the power of God to deliver an individual from the bondage of sin by the power of the Gospel. H.D. Simmons

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved;

but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Mark 16:16

Have a blessed day!’

Anna Lee

Sunday Afternoon

Mrs. Kathine Sanders

Momma Cat is in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital with pneumonia. Please be in prayer for this lady and her family.

Chuck Pittman

Chuck is in room 3104 at North Oaks. Please be in prayer for Chuck and his family as he continues the battle with cancer.

Mark Hughes

Mark is continuing to be treated with medication for the problems that arose after surgery. He is doing better and may soon be able to be released from the hospital. He will continue to stay in the Atlanta area so he will be near his doctor.

Bro. Butch Reviere

Bro. Butch is now at his sister’s house where he hopes to get some rest for a while. Cards may be sent to him in c/o Cathy Purvis. 61156 Seal Road, Varnado, LA 70467.

Pete Lee

Pete continues to need surgery to stop an infection. Pray for the doctors to make the right decision about the next step in treating Pete.

Adrianna Cavanagh – I know your hearts break as you read the updates on Adrianna. The family has received lots of support, but it is still difficult to be in their situation. Please continue to pray for this family. This update was written by Adrianna’s mom midmorning today.

Another hard morning for us. Joe stayed up til 3:00 am and then I have been on duty since. Adrianna did not sleep well and threw up a few times. She has had some leg pain, but we think her pain meds are working better now.
She has not been moving her left leg or left arm, so she could have had a mini stroke yesterday during the seizures, or what seemed like seizures. That leg and arm are also swollen, but does not show signs of edema yet.
We are weary and tired, but love seeing our daughter. We don’t like seeing her in pain, though. We just want what is best for her and that is all we can hope and pray for.
I have been doing more praying now than I ever have in my life. God knows better than me, though, so I know I have to be patient.
Just praying for her peace and comfort.
She did ask me to go feed her stuffed cow this morning and then said, “Mommy, let’s watch Annie!” but then she’d fall right back to sleep. She also asks for sips of water and for her binky. Even asks for her Mommy….wh ich always makes my heart melt.
This baby is fighting so hard..I just wish I could take away her pain…..
The nurses have been coming to check on her every day and night. Her vitals are all pretty good, considering.
We think there may be some decrease in brain function, though. I am so scared that a tumor is pressing on her brain….Lord, please let us have as many conversations with her as we can get….Please grant her a miracle or let her go to live with you, in peace…We don’t want to watch her suffer anymore. It is so painful….
Believing,
Stephanie

Death Notice – More and more people that I have know all my life are passing away. Alma is in that group. Please pray for her family.

Alma Marion Moore
(October 31, 1931 – January 26, 2010)

A native of Amite and lifelong resident of Arcola, died on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Tangi Pines Nursing Center in Amite, LA at the age of 78 years. She is survived by her 2 sisters, Mary Pevey, Amite and Lydia Hawkins, Grenada, MS; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Cleo Joseph Moore, Sr.; mother, Cecelia Vessier Moore; sister, Lorena Wimberly; brother, Cleo Joseph Moore, Jr.; niece, Judy Moore Hammons; nephew, Ronald Pevey. The family would like to express a special thank you to the Staff of Tangi Pines Nursing Center for their dedicated care and assistance during this difficult time. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 12 Noon on Tuesday until religious services at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Woodard. Interment Mulberry Street Cemetery, Amite.

Sunday

From now on,

if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today,

love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you,

he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time ….

~Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG)~

Eric Pritchard

Please keep Eric on the prayer list. it’s not looking promissing, But with Jesus,all things are possible. Keep praying for a miracle.

Lloyd and Alcyon Hayden

Wagstaffs

Here’s our latest on the medical front. We have a complication. Bob just had his x-rays and doctor’s visit, and unfortunately the doctor did not release us to make reservations to come home on Feb.6, as we had hoped. He wants Bob to have a CT Scan on Tuesday because he is having so much pain. If he doesn’t find the problem and Bob is still in pain he will have an MRI as soon as it can be scheduled.
   We are getting weary of being away, but Bob couldn’t do anything there anyway while he is having this much pain. Please do continue to pray. It seems that Bob’s backbone is healing nicely, but the doctor said there may be a bloodclot or hemorrhaging that is pressing on a nerve. Doctor Ha (Yes, that is really his name.) is not sure what is causing this pain, that’s why Bob will have more tests.
Our prayer request is for Bob to be pain free and to be released to come home. We would love for that to happen by Tuesday. Anyway, God has a reason for allowing our hardships. Pray that we will understand why this is happening. But, even if we don’t, we praise God that He is in charge.
     We love you guys,
                             Diane

Adrianna Cavanagh

Today was a rough day for Adrianna and for us. Yet God blessed us with another miracle and now she is sleeping peacefully on the couch.
Early this morning I could tell Adrianna was very confused. She kept saying she wanted to go to Mommy’s room, but we were already in there. Finally we brought her into the living room to the couch, because she wanted to be moved. She threw up a lot last night and all through the morning, but kept wanting to drink more water and milk.
Around 11:30 she began to start straining for breath, just as she did last Saturday night- a week ago. We all sat around her, talking to her, telling her she did not have to fight anymore and she could go be with God…and not to be scared.
She then had what seemed like 3 different seizures, so we kept giving her Ativan to calm her down. Thankfully, the hospice nurse was here to help. We also switched her pain meds because her leg, feet, and arm pain have been getting worse.
As she finally regained some strength and started breathing normally, we were all in awe again. Simply a miracle! We just kept shaking our heads in disbelief, thinking, “Wow! This kid is tough! She just doesn’t want to give up yet!”
After a while, I took a long bath and thought of Abraham in the Bible who was supposed to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Though Abraham couldn’t bear to do this to his son, he followed God’s orders until God said for him to stop, and saved Isaac from being sacrificed.
I kind of felt like we had done something similar today–tell ing God to take her so she wouldn’t suffer anymore, and God giving us a miracle.
Adrianna has woken up off and on, asking for water nonstop. She has kept down all of her medicine and fluids tonight and is finally sleeping, without pain.
God bless all the people who’ve been praying for all of us, for the people who’ve been holding a candlelight vigil outside our home every night, and for all the people who’ve been bringing us delicious food to eat all week.
We are truly blessed with amazing family, friends, and acquaintances.
We are tired, but happy that our baby girl is still here with us, fighting like the true fighter she is.
And we’re trusting in God, who is the ONLY one who can give us the real strength we need and the peace that passes ALL understanding.
Hoping to have more precious moments with our baby girl tomorrow, and that she will be pain-free tonight and tomorrow.
Taking it day by day, hour by hour….
Keeping the faith and believing in miracles,
Stephanie, Joe, & Adrianna

Roy Russell has been moved to North Oaks Rehab. He is getting some help he needs to recover f rom his stroke. Please keep him in your prayers.

My cousin, Sharla, is doing much better at rehab. She still has some issues the medical staff is working on, but is definately better. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Daddy had his first cataract surgery and is doing well. Please continue to pray for him as he progresses and for us as Momma and Daddy have four appointments with doctors this week.

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

THERE IS A certain convict that I have been corresponding with for several years down in Texas that recently got a “new” typewriter…

He had completely worn out the old one.

It was not very easy to correct his errors on the old machine and the letters he would type were full of typos most of the time. I was taken back by the cost of the new one…$110…quite a price to pay for anything in prison, and it was very elevating to my own soul to hear how joyful he was at being able to buy it.

I wrote him a letter and told him that every once in a while all of us need a little new in our lives.

Makes me wonder…

Why don’t we sweep out the old grudges from our lives, rip the pages of regret out of our life book, focus on how much good God has done for us, plant a seed of hopefulness in our neighbors, write a special memory on the wall paper of someone’s heart? Replace the fears of tomorrow with the good we can do today. Make a difference where we stand. Do the little things that matter. Hope more, love more, find new ways to serve, get out of ourselves and into the lives of others.

What stirs you? What is your passion? What makes you get up early, go to bed late, work harder, stay longer, risk more, cry less, laugh more? What if there was no way for you to lose? No way to be disappointed, no “on the other hand,” nothing but good consequences at the end of the day?

What if you could “buy” a dream, make a wish come true, be the person you’ve always known you could be? How hard would it be to put some “new” in your life by changing just one simple thing – your attitude?

What if we looked forward to helping others instead of considering it a chore, that’s right a chore, don’t think I’m the only one that ever had the thought, “I could be doing something I want to do instead of helping so and so.” I’m not. Neither are you.

What kind of “new” could you and I put in our lives that would give us the joy that this convict feels with a new typewriter? Could it be as simple as looking each day for someone to serve in some way even if it is small? Yep that would do it for me. I could get up for some “new” in my own life, a change in my attitude, an opportunity to serve others and the good part is those “others” are all around me.

I think perhaps we are so conflicted about what we should be doing and dont do that it makes us all start searching for something different or new to put joy in our lives whwen all along the “new” is simply to write on our own internal typewriters a “new name” to serach each day. I must do better. Ken Upchurch (Ken is a shepherd with the Kensington Woods church of Christ in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.)

“Therefore, as we have opportunity,

let us do good to all,

especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:10

I’ll post some other updates this afternoon.

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee