Category: Praises, Requests, & Updates

Sunday

“We know that we have passed from death to life,

because we love other believers.”

1 John 3:14 (GWT)

 

Majel Dean said Jesse is doing better. He still gets tired easily. Please continue to be in prayer for Jesse and Majel.

From Melinda Russell:

I have a personal prayer request I would like you to pray for. I learned from my mother that my cousin’s wife has cervical cancer. Since they do not have insurance she had put off going to the doctor. When she did finally go, the doctor knew she needed surgery. The initial surgery was to remove a mass, but when the surgeon saw it, he did a biopsy. The report that came back last Thursday was not good. PRAY for an oncologist to see her ASAP. She will be going to a public hospital that sees many people. M is in her late 30’s or close to 40, I think. They have a son in college and two little girls, the oldest in elementary school and the other is 4 or 5 years old. They were both born after we came to Romania so I am not quite sure of their ages.

We know our Lord is the God of healing. Pray for his healing hands to touch M. Pray for the whole family to feel God’s loving hands on them during this time. To give them peace, strength, and assurance that he is with them throughout the whole period. Pray they will feel his guidance as they make decisions in regards to her treatment.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

http://www.rogerlrussellfamily.blogspot.com/

http://www.imbromania.ro


Willie Zane Johnson
(August 31, 1958 – April 19, 2008)

Died at 3:46 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at his residence in Bolivar, LA. He was a native of Amite, LA. Age 49 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. on Monday until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland, LA. Survived by step-daughter, Patricia Parnell, 3 sisters, Beverly Rohnbacker, Bolivar, Carol Bowlin, Baton Rouge, Joy Travis, Leesville, brother, Ronald Joe Johnson, Thomas. Preceded in death by father, Harvey Eugene Johnson, mother, Lillian Elizabeth Husser Johnson, paternal grandparents who raised him, Vern Aubrey Lambert and Willie Mae Lewis Lambert, maternal grandparents, Johnny Mulina Husser and Ozzie Ellen Mulina Husser, brothers, Johnny Aubrey Johnson, Harvey Eugene Johnson, Jr., sisters, Janice Benet’ Johnson, Jill Renee Johnson Seals.

The On Mission Celebration last night was very good and very well attended. If you missed it, you missed something special. If you were there, you know what I was talking about. Thanks to those of you who supported this project in any way. Each of the eighteen churches that participated last night will have missionaries speaking in their church today. I anticipate you will feel a challenge today as they tell us about missions.

Immunity

No matter how hard we try to be good, Franklin Graham reminds us that we all fail to measure up to God’s standards…but we do have hope:

We are all guilty, as far as God is concerned. And the Bible says we’ve all sinned, that we’ve all come short of God’s glory, and that the penalty of sin is death. We want an advocate who can stand before God on our behalf, who can speak on our behalf–24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We want an advocate that will never leave us, never forsake us. That advocate is the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you put your faith and trust in Him? If you have, you know that you have immunity.

To learn how to put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ, call us here at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, toll free, at 866-JESUS CARES.


Have a great Lord’s Day! Make sure you give it to Him.

Anna Lee

Saturday

Note: I started this posting about three hours ago, but got sidetracked with a research paper, preparing fruit for a watermelon basket for the On Missions Celebration, etc. I have had a lot on my mind lately. At least I remembered to come back to it later.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says:

Judge fairly and honestly,

and show mercy and kindness to one another.

Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people.

And do not make evil plans to harm each other.”

~Zechariah 7:9-10 (NLT)~

Dear Prayer Partners,

Just a note of follow-up on the meeting today with the mayor of Valeni. Ron returned very encouraged. God has heard our prayers for the people of Valeni and answered the water issue through the Mayor. Ron and the pastor found him to be open. He shared with them that he currently has the project written to take water to the people of Valeni, and it will be submitted the 20th of this month. He believes the project will be completed in 1 year or less.

The Turkish mayor was touched in that in his years as mayor, he has not had anyone come to him wanting to help the people of Valeni. He told Ron and the pastor about a project we could work together on to improve the current water supply until the big project is complete. We are currently researching the costs for this. Ron and the pastor were very encouraged by his response and openness.

Another praise from the trip today is that the husband of one of our persons of peace was home and agrees to meet with Ron and the pastor early next week. They found that the proclaimer ( a solar powered audio New Testament in Turkish) is already being used to hear the Word of God.

We give God the praise for the results of today’s visit! Please pray for the meeting with the men in the village next week. Please continue to pray that more opportunities will develop to touch people’s lives with the Word and love of Christ. As always, you have overwhelmed us with your response to pray, thank you. Until next time, we are……..

Kept by Him, Ron and Charlotte (Romania)

 

On Mission Celebration

FBC, Amite

This evening’s schedule:

  • 4:30 – Meet missionaries and teate food from around the world
  • 5:30 – Supper (no cost to you)
  • 6:30 – Parade of flads,special music, and missionary speakers

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

George Bush (the senior), who was always known for his dry wit, said this of his relationship with President Ronald Reagan…

“It’s important for a Vice president not to upstage his boss, and you don’t know how hard it has been to keep my charisma in check.”

Sometimes I worry that as humans we try to “upstage” God in worship. Who, after all, have we come to honor? Are we presenting ourselves to the community as the church with the “best” worship service? Are we trying to enliven the singing in order to keep our young people interested? Should this enterprise be considered successful if we all leave with a woosy feeling in our tummies?

“Sometimes these days it is hard to distinguish praise from ‘schmooze,'” notes one writer. “Real praise happens when God becomes God again for us. ‘Be God for us,’ we will cry, ‘Speak your word so strongly that we can’t hear anything else.'”

(Marva Dawn, Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down, page 89).

Of course God has always been God. He has always been great beyond our imagination. He has always been near to us. It’s just that we sometimes miss him because we are so busy trying to upstage the one who should be the focus and center of our worship.

Worship is conducted on his terms alone, or it is not worship. A service designed to honor anyone or anything less than God is not worship. It is flattery at best, and idolatry at worst, for nothing less than the God of all the earth warrants our worship.

After all, we came to honor God, not the church. This Sunday morning, don’t upstage the Boss. Allow his warmth and righteousness, his will and word be the lasting impression that is left on your heart. (Stan Mitchell)


Jesus said to him,

“Away from me, Satan,for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”

~Matthew 4:10~

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend!

Anna Lee

Friday

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me.”

~Psalm 34:4a~

My family is very much in need of prayers in reguards to my husbands health and our finances everything always seems to come at us at once
Please Pray for us…
Thank You
Lori Singleton

Please continue to pray for Mr.Henry Harrison. Pray for “Miss” Emma, his wife and caregiver too.

Pray for Mr. Bully Schwartz, one of the oldest members of our church.

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd
(July 6, 1946 – April 16, 2008)

Susan Ann Westmoreland Todd was released to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the age of 61. She was the adored wife of James Ora Todd for over 40 years. She was the loving mother of James Madison Todd and his wife, Dana Todd, Huntersville, NC and grandmother of Joshua Todd and Noah Todd. She was the sister of Carol Beyerback, Kenner and Fred Westmoreland, Alexandria and the late Terri Giglio and Mary Brown. She was the daughter of the late Carol Vidross and Fred Westmoreland. A strong woman of faith whose purpose was to see the message of Christ spread throughout the world. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to be held at First Baptist Church of Arcola on the evening of Friday, April 18, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM and after 8:00AM until funeral services at 10:00AM on Saturday, April 19, 2008 conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment will follow in First Baptist Church of Arcola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Susan wished donations to be made to Baptist Missionary Bibles for distribution.

Ellis Sharpe, Sr.
(May 15, 1929 – April 16, 2008)

Died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at Ocshner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. He was a native and a resident of Independence, LA. Age 79 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Rev. Mitch Williams. Interment Durbin Cemetery, Independence, LA. He is survived by his 4 daughters, Cheryl Boudreaux and husband, Larry, Denham Springs, Glenda Sharpe, Denham Springs, Aimie Morehead, Hawaii and Regina Pruitt, Colorado; 2 sons, Ellis Sharpe, Jr. and wife, Marcy, Denham Springs and Roger Sharpe and wife, Ima Jean, Ponchatoula; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearlie Rodriguez Sharpe; daughter, Faye Marie Sharpe; parents, Esco and Lillie Rainey Sharpe; brother, Joseph Sharpe; sister, Gertrude Rumfola.

William C. Peterson
(August 3, 1933 – April 16, 2008)

Mr. William C. Peterson died at his residence in Independence, La. at 8:09 AM on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. He was 74 years old, a native of Lorraine, Texas and a resident of Independence, La. Visitation at McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home on Friday April 18, 2008 from 1:00PM until 3:00PM. The family will have Religious Services and Graveside Services on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at the Green Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He is survived by his first wife Tish Fruge’, Gonzales, La., 3 Daughters; Vicki Lentz, Independence, Rhea Sawyer, St. Amant, Diana Peterson, Tulsa, Ok., Son; Lee Peterson, Greenville, S.C., Stepson; Lynn Flurry, Baton Rouge, Sister; Ann Nelson, Kellyville, OK., 8 Grandchildren; Amanda, Shelby, Brittney, Jenny, Corey, Brady, P.J., Allison, 5 Great-Grandchildren; Gage, Bryson, Hayden, Caden, Ryan. He was a member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union for 20+ years. Preceded in death by; Parents; H.C. and Willie Mae Peterson, 2nd Wife; Libby Flurry Peterson, 2 Sisters; Helen Garner, Frances Holmes and 1 Son; Ashley Durand Hudson.

KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

April 18, 2008

“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b

“WORDLESS BOOK”

A 12-year-old boy in Colombia has been hospitalized with a chronic sickness. It is so bad that he needs surgery to get well. Before he went to the hospital, this little boy and his family went to the New Paradise Baptist Church; and the people of the church prayed for him to get well. A missionary met the little boy that day and saw that he was very sick. She encouraged his mom and dad to take him to the hospital. The missionary visited the 12-year-old in his hospital room and told him about Jesus by using the “wordless book.” **

The 12-year-old boy asked Jesus into his heart right then. Both of his parents have also asked Jesus to be their Savior. Please pray for this young boy that he will have the surgery he needs and get better soon. Ask God to help him and his parents to grow in what they understand about Jesus as they read the Bible and pray.

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

Please pray that I can find new friends in my new neighborhood. JACK, age 10 (South Asia)

My best friend is Liza. She plays with me when there’s nobody to play outside. I go over to her house to play too. Lots of times we chase goats and piggies. Animals aren’t kept in cages or anything here, people just let them go wherever they want. At nighttime, people bring them back home. Liza’s mom’s pig just had four babies. Please pray that she can sell the baby pigs to get money for their family. MELODY, age 7 (West Africa)

Please ask God to help my friends and all the other people in the world to believe in God. KM, age 8 (East Asia)

Please pray for my friend, MK. I shared the gospel with her and she pretty much rejected everything I said. I know she wasn’t rejecting me but was rejecting Jesus. Please pray that God will keep working in her heart and that she will see the truth about Christianity. Pray for me to continue to be bold in sharing my faith with her and everyone else I happen to meet. ASHLEY, age 13 (Pacific Rim)

Several times each week, I go with my mom and dad to visit our Hausa friends. My friends and I like to play soccer and play in the sand. My friends have never heard that Jesus loves them. My mom and I sing with them and share Bible stories. My friends like to color a lot, so I share my crayons and we color pictures about the Bible stories. Please pray for my mom and dad as they share Bible stories with our friends. Please pray that my Hausa friends will come to know Jesus. Please pray that my friends will see what a difference God’s love can make. (My mommy wrote this…I don’t know how to write yet.) NOAH, age 2 (West Africa)

** HOW TO MAKE A WORDLESS BOOK

Has anyone every shown you the wordless book? I made one in Vacation Bible School when I was a little girl-that was a long time ago. Even before I was a little girl, a man named C. H. Spurgeon preached a sermon nearly 100 years ago and told the story of the wordless book. I don’t know how old it really is.

It’s pretty easy to make one yourself. Find some colored paper-one piece in gold, black, red, white and green. With the help of an adult, cut the paper just the right size-maybe you want a tiny book, so cut the paper 2 ½ x 5 inches; or for a bigger book, cut a regular 8 ½ x 11 inch page in half. Fold each piece in half so you have 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch squares or 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inch booklets. Tape or glue the pieces of paper together (gold to black, black to red, red to white, white to green) so that when you open it the gold is the first full page, black is the second, red third, white fourth, and green is the last page. You can make any kind of cover you would like. Me? I like the idea of a pretty purple cover-that just makes me think of Jesus, our Savior and King.

The story of the wordless book is the same as the evangelistic bracelets many Christians wear. The gold (or yellow) stands for God’s heavenly home, the black for the sin of our hearts that keep us separated from God. The red page reminds us that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead; and if we accept Jesus as Savior, He will make us clean. Yes, that’s the white page-You and me, knowing Jesus, and being forgiven and cleaned from all our sin! Finally, the green page helps us understand how important it is to grow. We want to learn more about Jesus so we need to read the Bible and pray every day. That’s how we grow!

I hope you have time to make a wordless book this week and I am praying you will share the story with your friends.

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


THE BUILDERS OF the Titanic were remiss in several areas and doomed the mighty vessel to the bottom of the ocean…

Their failures mimic our steps to apostasy. Their lessons are ours as we discover how Christians leave the Lord (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-31).

First, their pride doomed the ship because they failed to develop contingency plans since they falsely believed it was unsinkable. We face equal peril when we believe we are immune from apostasy.

Second, the self-righteous pride of the owners of the Titanic led them to seek the minimum in safety standards. They did the least or less in every area of safety. Their malfeasance had no justification.

Five decades before the construction of the Titanic, the Great Eastern had scraped on an uncharted rock off the coast of Long Island. It had torn a hole in her skin nine feet wide and 83 feet long. However, she had an inner hull and was able to limp into port. No one was hurt. Inner hulls became more popular but the builders of the Titanic apparently saw it as unnecessary.

They cut many other safety standards. The most famous were the lifeboats. Regulations called for a ship of Titanic’s size to carry enough lifeboats for 962 even though she could carry over 3,500 passengers and crew. They should have been prepared to offer everyone a seat on the lifeboats.

“The owners and operators of steamships had for five decades taken larger and larger risks to save money – risks to which they had methodically blinded themselves.” 1/ This carelessness exacted a heavy price.

Do we trim or skirt safety standards in our Christian lives? Do we try to get by on the minimum? People do this without realizing it.

We reason there is a minimum that we can do and be pleasing to God. We rationalize that attending Sunday morning services and living a moral life are enough. While everyone else are just “super Christians,” they are just fine with what they are doing. Their delusion is disheartening.

The army that seeks the minimum in arming its soldiers will soon find their enemy raining the maximum in destruction upon them. The soldier who fails to properly arm himself because the gear is too heavy, faces grave danger in the battle. Good soldiers are very careful not to cut corners in their battle preparation because they know their lives depend on it.

Discipleship is not about maximums and minimums. Salvation is not meritorious. /2 We require the blood of Christ on our souls in order to be justified before God (Romans 5). We must “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7, NKJV). We are commanded to walk worthy of the “calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Trying to find a minimum, we seek salvation by works, rather than by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not about attaining the minimum we can accomplish, it is about finding a way to do all we can for Christ (Matthew 22:37).

We cannot attend enough worship services, read our Bibles enough or be moral enough to merit salvation. However, seeking the minimum in the Christian life illustrates that we have little interest in Christ being the Lord of our lives. We can easily slip into the mindset that we want to be a Christian but that we do not want it to change our lives. However, if Christ is not on the throne of our hearts, Satan will fill the vacuum (1 Peter 5:8).

“Disinterested Christians reach the point where they are no longer bearing fruit and will be cut off from the vine (John 15:1-8). Faithfulness indicates allegiance, attitude, and direction in a life filled and flooded with God (Ephesians 3:19). Unfaithfulness leads to apostasy.” /3

Let us seek the maximum for Christ because he deserves it. (Richard Mansel)

1/ http://www.cuug.ab.ca/~branderr/risk_essay/titanic.html
2/ http://tinyurl.com/yrtthj
3/ http://tinyurl.com/3m69ow


“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away,to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).

Thanks for your prayers for others each day. You mean so much to so many!

Anna Lee

Thursday

“O sing to the LORD a new song,

for He has done wonderful things….

He has revealed His righteousness

in the sight of the nations.”

~Psalm 98:1a-2, NASB~

Prayer Request from Romania

Dear Prayer Partners,

Please be in prayer Friday (10:00 AM Romanian time/3:00 AM US Eastern Time) as Ron and the national pastor visit the mayor of Valeni regarding the water well. Please pray for wisdom, discernment and that the heart of the mayor will open and his perspective will be made clear.

As always, we appreciate your faithfulness to pray.

Kept by Him, Ron and Charlotte

Team Romania

http://www.imbromania.ro

Special Announcements

  • Share Group – 6:30 tonight at the Alford cabin (food, fellowship, & devotion)
  • On Mission Celebration – FBC, Amite, Saturday at 4:30 P.M.
  • On Mission in Kentwood – 8:00 Saturda, April 26
  • Nursery Volunteers of 4-20-08 – Gail Brister, Sharon Martin, & Walter and Kathy Dykes
  • Senior Adult Trip to Tanger Mall and Cabelas in Gonzales, Tuesday, April 22, Leave FBC at 8:30 A.M.

RESTRICTED AREA

Suppose we raised our children with guidelines patterned after the Old Testament law. Instructions regarding where they can eat and where they can’t might sound something like this:

Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and
of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but
not in the living room.

Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may
eat, but not in the living room.

Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat,
but not in the living room.

Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the
oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and
unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room.

Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in
sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither
may you carry such therein.

Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet
begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither
may you drink. But if you are sick, and are lying down and
watching something, then may you eat in the living room.

When I was a child, the rule may not have been worded quite that way, but the principle was surely in place. There were places where I was forbidden to go except in extreme or unusual circumstances.

The Jews of the Old Testament were in a similar situation. There was a place forbidden to them — that special room in the tabernacle and later the temple called the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies. It represented the very presence of God and the punishment for entering was nothing short of death. The only exception took place on the Day of Atonement when the high priest alone entered — and then only after the room was filled with the smoke of incense.

One of the things Jesus did for us on the cross was to open our access into God’s presence. Have you considered the significance of the tearing of the veil in the temple when Jesus was on the cross (Matt. 27:51)? What once was forbidden has now been made available!

“…[W]e have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NIV)

You may still be restricted from eating in the living room, but going into the presence of God is now a possibility!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Tuesday Night

Jesse Dean will have another surgery in the morning on his knee. Please continue to pray for him, his family, and the medical staff that’s caring for him.

Please continue to pray for my parents, Grant and Dot Smith of Roseland.

Earl Ray Sharkey


(April 10, 1932 – April 15, 2008)

Died at 5:06AM on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was a native of Amite, LA and a resident of Roseland, LA. Age 76 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and at Kedron Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. Herb Cowan and Rev. Norman Nowell. Interment Kedron Cemetery, Amite, LA. Survived by his daughter, Richelle Smart and husband, Dale, Roseland, 2 sons, Ray Sharkey and wife, Clara, Tickfaw and Rex Sharkey and wife, Sheila, Waynesboro, MS, 5 grandchildren, Logan, Dakota and Cassidy Smart and Colton and Savannah Sharkey, 2 sisters, Wanzie Williams and husband, J. L., Kentwood and Julie Kay Frazier and husband, Roy, Baton Rouge, 2 brothers, Bobby Sharkey and wife, Vicki, Amite and Harrell Sharkey and wife, Susie, Tangipahoa, numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Nowell Sharkey, parents, Felix and Daisy Sharkey.

Dorothy Marie Hart


(July 24, 1966 – April 12, 2008)

Died at 5:47AM on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Wellstar Douglas Hospital in Douglasville, GA. She was a native of Kentwood, LA and a resident of Douglasville, GA. Age 41 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 8:30 a.m. on Wedesday until religious services at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Walter Mixon. Interment Hyde Cemetery, Roseland, LA. Survived by son, Joseph Garrison, Coalgate, OK, daughter, Julie Garrison, Douglasville, GA, grandchildren, Cheyenne Michelle Garrison, Robert Michael Jose Hutcheson, Donovan James Garrison, Dayton Michael Garrison, brothers and sisters, Bill Hart, Birmingham, AL, Tom Hart, Catlett, VA, Patty May, French Settlement, LA, Barbara Holliday, Kentwood, LA, Laura Doty, Dublin, OH, Debbie Severio, Independence, LA, Susan Hart, Denham Springs, LA. Pallbearers will be Rickey Dale Wallace, Donald Holliday, Jr., Justin Wallace, Leo Edwards, Mark Catir, and Stephen Tankersley.

Tuesday

“Blessed be the Lord,

because He has heard the voice of my supplications!”

~Psalm 28:6~

 

Thank God for:

  • His Son who provided salvation for us
  • Life
  • Health
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Jobs (past, present, and future)
  • Changes of the weather
  • Etc.

 

 

 

Pray for:

  • Those who are lost
  • Those who are grieving
  • Those who are away from families
  • Those who are undergoing medical tests/treatment
  • Homebound
  • Caregivers
  • Military
  • Government leaders
  • Graduating seniors (college and high school)
  • Church staff
  • Missionaries

 

 

 

MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. The father of a Muslim family who has befriended some young international Christians recently left on what he called a “spiritual journey.” This journey is part of a Muslim missionary movement that began several decades ago. He will travel for a season to preach and encourage Muslims to be more devout in their practices. The Christians are wondering if his journey is a result of questions that have come up because of the presence of Christians in his life. Is he searching for truth and grasping tightly to the only thing he knows as truth, or is he planting his feet and standing firmly in resistance against the Truth he has heard? Please pray fervently that his experiences on his spiritual journey will demolish his tight grip on false teachings and cause him to search for truth in Jesus Christ. Pray for the Christians as they continue to share Bible stories with the family each week. Ask God to enable the entire family to understand that Jesus is the only one who can present us faultless before the throne of grace. Pray for them to place their faith in Him alone! http://btw.imb.org/

 

 

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

One year ago, people around the world were stunned by a shooting rampage that left 32 victims dead on the campus of Virginia Tech University…

In the aftermath, the mother of one critically wounded student who survived said she did not want the ordeal to become the defining moment in her son’s life. Instead, she hoped it could be “something positive, some great celebration of his life.”

When the unthinkable happens, it may seem impossible to believe that anything can overcome the emotional scars. Yet, the life of Joseph offers a powerful illustration of God’s transforming power (Gen. 37-50). The brothers who sold him into slavery were sure he would take revenge on them (50:15-17). But Joseph told them, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (v.20).

When we place our desire for revenge in God’s hands, we become participants in the remarkable process described by Paul: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).

The defining moments of our lives are not determined by the evil done to us, but by our response such events. (David C. McCasland)


“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).


I hope this devotional speaks to some of you today. I know these verses have helped me through difficult times.

Anna Lee

 

Monday

“Youths may faint and grow weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

but those who trust in the LORD

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint,”

~Isaiah 40:30-31, HCSB~

Curt Martin will be having another test to check the blood clot in his leg. Pray for it to be healed. Pray for Curt to have be able to stay off of it as long as necessary.

Be in prayer for the many grieving families in the Kentwood area.

From the International Mission Board:

A retired pastor walks the mountainous countryside for hours each day. He stops at homes and along the way to tell everyone he meets the good news of Jesus. Last year he made 2,640 visits, all on foot, to share the Gospel. That is an average of 220 visits per month, and about seven visits per day-and he is 88 years old! “Pray that the Lord will lengthen my life, to be able to keep working in the Lord’s service,” he asks.

(Does that testimony make you feel like you are coming up short? It certainly does me!)

Since Easter, the Baptists on this island nation have been asking God to enable them to reach 1 million of their people in the next three years, and to start many churches for His glory. If the passion for prayer does not surprise you, perhaps the location will. This pastor walks the rugged roads of Cuba.

“Pray that Cuba might be won to Christ,” he pleads. As Cuban Baptists are in the midst of the “50 Days of Prayer for Cuba” emphasis, please ask the Lord for 1 million Cubans to come to Christ, and for a church to be started within walking distance of each one during the next three years. Pray for others, like this retired pastor, who daily share their faith with those in Cuba who do not know Jesus.

* Please pray that God will pour out the power of the Holy Spirit on Cuban Christians, giving them daily strength and joy in their labor of prayer.

* Ask God to give them love and compassion for the lost so they will personally share the Gospel.

* Join this 88-year-old pastor in praying “that Cuba and the whole world might be won to Christ.”

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
THE BLOG TITLE read, “Moron turns in $140,000.00…”

What this title has reference to is the news story that broke last month. Eli Estrada, a 40 year-old Palm Beach resident found a bag containing $140,000.00 in unmarked $20.00 bills.

Mr. Estrada certainly could have used the money. About six months ago, he opened a landscaping and artificial-grass business and is in debt; he says his child support payments are tough to make; and he supports his mother, who moved in with him last year after she lost her house to a fumbled refinancing plan. Yet, Mr. Estrada went straight to the police and turned in all $140,000.00.

Apparently a Brinks armored truck somehow lost the money. Brinks rewarded Mr. Estrada for his good deed by giving him $2,000.00.

So now, was Mr. Estrada a really a “moron?” Only if one views such values as honesty, integrity, and the “golden rule” as foolish. But what about the cheap reward that was offered? Some on this blog said that if they knew the reward for turning in the money would have been so small, they would have kept it. But do we have to be financially rewarded for doing the right thing? Are our values so degraded that we feel we deserve a “reward” for doing what we’re supposed to do?

A moron? Hardly. Here’s a man who has demonstrated that he sufficient intelligence to know that some things are more valuable than money…things like integrity, honesty, and doing the right thing. Thank you, Mr. Estrada, for your example. May your tribe increase!

Now then, truthfully, what would you do if you found them money? Give it some thought. (Steve Higginbotham)

“Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight” (Gen. 43:12).

May our moral values be worthy of the name we carry – Christian!

Anna Lee

Sunday Night

Jesse Dean will not be coming home from North Oaks tomorrow. He is having problems with his heart when he moves around. Pray for Jesse, Majel, the other family members, and for the medical staff as they care for Jesse.

Pam McBride, daugher of J.L. and Wanzie Williams, passed away. Please be in prayer for her family. I’ll post an obituary when one is available.