The wake and funeral today are for Mr. Bobby Simpson.

Good morning. Welcome to Saturday of the Thanksgiving holidays.

Read the Bible Today

Today’s Scripture

Reminder – Services for Bobby Raborn

Visitation at First Baptist Church of Kentwood from 10:00AM until religious services at 1:00PM on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Services conducted by Rev. Darryl Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA

Sunday School Lesson

Be sure to prepare for attendance in Sunday School in the morning.

Reading the Bible in 2025

• Nov. 28
• Lam. 3:37-5
• November 29
• Ezekiel 1-4

No New Obituaries This Morning

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for Trey Harrison and his family as doctors treat him at OLOL.

Please pray for Betty Simpson, Melissa, Kay, Gretchen. and other family members as they have the wake and funeral for Mr. Bobby today.

Please continue to pray for others on our personal prayer lists.

Pray also for church services in our churches tomorrow.

Additional Bible Reading

‘Rejoice! and Pray!’

4 Don’t sin by letting anger control you.

Think about it overnight and remain silent.

5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,

and trust the Lord.

6 Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”

Let your face smile on us, Lord.

7 You have given me greater joy

than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

Psalm4:4-7

Be blessed as you are a blessing to others today!

Anna Lee

Thankfulness- Day 28

Today I am thankful for freedom to worship and for my church. It’s hard to imagine the government interfering with my church or the leaders and members there, our right to assemble, or attack.

A Verse for Today

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

There are very interesting articles to read today.

Read the Bible Today

• November 28
• Lamentations 3:38 – 5

Thanksgiving Meal at FBC

I was told that more than 200 individuals received meals Wednesday. Good job “Manna”!

Today is a good day to check on others.

I know boxes of food were given out this week, but do not have a number.

Additional Verses to Read

‘Teacher or Lord?’

²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

Mt. 26:21-25

Let’s honor our Lord, not deny him today!

Anna Lee

Happy Thanksgiving! I know that even with some disappointments in life, we all are greatly blessed. Be sure to thank God for all your blessings.

Thankfulness, Day 27

Today, I am thankful to say we have company now from Texas, Mississippi,and Georgia More company is coming from Georgia and Kentwood. We are so blessed!

Read the Bible in 2025

• November 27
• Lamentations 1-3:36

Today, as you count your blessings, thank God for His great love and wonderful plans for your life.

Today’s Thought

‘Live with Devotion and
Hope in Jesus’

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 

13 looking for the blessed ⁱhope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Titus 2:12-13

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

No New Obituaries Listed Today

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

That’s enough from me today. Thank God and enjoy you time with family and friends.

Anna Lee

Read the Bible in 2025

• November 26
• Jeremiah 51-52

Thankfulness – Day 26

Today, I am thankful for automobiles that make life much more convenient than walking, riding in a buggy, or riding a horse. They allow us more choices when we shop, provide timely transportation for travel to church, stores, school, etc. We can travel without constant weather conditions such as extreme heat or cold or rain. They make travel faster and take larger or small groups to their destimations. They also save time and allow us to stay on our schedules. I’ve only lived during the area of automobiles, for which I am very thankful.

OCC Statistics

These are the statistics for the Kentwood Drop-Off

• 13 volunteers who put in 133 hours in 8 days
• Collected shoeboxes from 15 churches and 2 individuals
• Collected a total o 1639 shoeboxes which were packed in 110 cartons (all they gave us) and leaving three more boxes we turned in separately.
• Two van-driving and trailer-pulling drivers made two trips to Hammond to deliver to an 18-wheeler who delivered them to the processing center in Charlotte before being sent across the Atlantic to countries where they will be delivered to the children who have been selected.

What an organized plan that works so well!

If you an any part in collecting the item that were purchased, providing funds, organizing, packing shoeboxes, moving cartons, filling cartons, loading on the trailer, driving a van, or PRAYING for the process, the child, or the family I thank you. I know we all had little parts, in a big project touching many lives, and leading to salvation for many, many children and family members.

Blessing to all off you who packed and to all who helped provide for purchases and shipping of the shoeboxes!

Obituary

Bobby Ray Simpson

August 19, 1933 – November 24, 2025

A resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025 at his home. He was born August 19, 1933 in Gillsburg, MS and was 92 years of age. Bobby was a devoted husband, father, and PawPaw. He was a proud U. S. Army Veteran and a cherished member of the community. He was known for his kind spirit and passion for sports and brought joy to everyone he met. Bobby lived a life dedicated to serving God and sharing His love and warmth with everyone. He was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Kentwood.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Betty Simpson; 2 daughters, Melissa Simpson Stutzman and husband, Buddy, and Kay Simpson; daughter-in-law, Gretchen Varnado Simpson; 4 grandchildren, Brooke Speed and husband, Dan, Kayla Johnson, Micah Simpson, and Sarabeth Simpson; great-grandchildren, John and Lily Speed and Murphy and Finley Evans. 

Preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Bertha Simpson; wife and mother of his children, Sara Martinez Simpson; son, Marty Simpson; 2 grandchildren, Dustin Johnson and Joshua Johnson; brothers, Earl, Jewel, and Burnell Simpson; 5 sisters, Reba Jane Simpson, Geneva Varnado, Bertie Hughes, Marty Alice Blackwell, and Dell Gore.

Visitation at First Baptist Church of Kentwood from 10:00AM until religious services at 1:00PM on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Services conducted by Rev. Darryl Miller. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Let’s pray for each other as we celebrate Thanksgiving and hopefully have an opportunity to spend time with some family members.

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

Additional Bible Reading

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;

for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you

are going. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Think of others today. Pray for them. Do something for them.

Anna Lee

Thankfulness – Day 25

I am thankful for all the mission projects in my church this week AND all those involved. What a blessing to be able to participate, to pray for the recipients, and to touch lives with JESUS!

Daily Bible Reading Today

• November 25

• Jeremiah 49-50

Today Scripture

Operation Christmas Child

My big news is that yesterday all the filled Shoeboxes were loaded on a trailer to take them to the next location, Charlotte, not Dallas this year! That means our boxes will travel east, not south, this year.

Thank you for reading about OCC this year. Thanks to many of you who worked so hard to pack the shoeboxes.\\There will be a short break before I get back on my “OCC Soapbox”, but not very long!

I will share some of our area OCC statistics tomorrow!

A Two-Word Reminder

“Christmas Cards”

Devotional Thoughts

(Charles H. Spurgeon)

Luke 4:18 is a verse from the Bible where Jesus reads from the prophet Isaiah, stating that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him because he has been anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, and to set the oppressed free. He declares this to be a fulfillment of scripture in their presence. (Verse of the Day)

Death

Mr. Bobby Simpson moved to his heavenly home early yesterday afternoon. I’ll probably be able to post the obituary tomorrow morning. Please continue to pray for his family.

Baptist Press

https://www.baptistpress.com/

FBC, Kentwood

There will be no Wednesday night services/activities this week.

What a great time of the year! Enjoy all the details about Thanksgiving that are so special. Share that special feeling with others.

Thanks for reading, praying, and your actions to minister to others today.

Anna Lee

Good morning. Today is another gift from God! Don’t throw it away.

Read the Bible in 2025

• November 24
• Jeremiah 46-48

Verse of the Day

No New Obituaries

Prayer Focus

Today, as I think of those who are sick, I also think of those who give care to their loved ones. If you have worn those shoes, I know you understand the need for prayers. Today, please focus some of your time on CAREGIVERS!

Mission Updates

Operation Christmas Child is winding down for this year. Today, we will receive shoeboxes from more local churches and make a last transfer of shoeboxes to Hammond. I cannot tell you enough about how much I appreciate the volunteers in each of the area churches. You packed as many boxes as you could and taught people, young and older, about the shoebox needs, processes, purpose, and many rewards. In Kentwood, volunteers worked so hard and had fun at the same time all week. Our hardest days were the days when we all waited, but didn’t have any shoeboxes delivered. The fun, smiles, and laughter was continuous. Drop-off time at FBC, Kentwood will be 8:00 -10:00 A.M. this morning. I will plan to share some statistics with you tomorrow.

The Christmas card project is progressing well at the church. It is difficult to think of a loved one in prison and unable to be with family during holidays. Christmas is such a special holiday. We hope to emphasize that and help the inmates connect with some family members. Hopefully, the cards will serve as a reminder that “Jesus is the reason for the season!” At Kentwood, our deadline for submitting stamped cards in December 7th. THANKS to all of you who have already contributed.

We will soon be celebrating international missions and collecting funds for our yearly emphasis, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Two Rivers (St. Helena and Tangipahoa) WMU/Women of Mission will gather at Spring Creek Baptist Church on December 6th at 10 A.M.

There are other mission efforts at church, but I am not directly involved in them. I can probably give you names of some who are if you would like to contact them.

‘A Precious Promise’

Trust, hard to gain yet easy to lose—at least by the world’s standard. You may not have trust for a lot of people in this world but rest assured, you can trust in the God above.

Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Thankfulness – Day 24

Today, I am thankful for caregivers. They put others first 100% of the time. Let’s remember them as we pray today.

Anna Lee

I had a phone call a few minutes ago that brought these two items to mind.

• If you already have non-religious Christmas cards, they will work well. If you are purchasing some, we would suggest religious over non-religious cards. That’s not a requirement, just a suggestion.
• If your OCC shoeboxes are ready, we would love to have them delivered to us today, 4-6 P.M. If that doesn’t work for you, please come as early as possible between 8:00 and 10:00 tomorrow.

THANKS!

Scripture Focus

Read the Bible in 2025

• November 25
• Jereemiah 42-45

Thankfulness: People with a Heart for Jesus

People are unique, but there is a great similarity in those loving Jesus and loving others. Sometimes they minister in unique ways and unexpectedly. Sometimes their Christian actions involve others.

Yesterday, I received Christmas cards with stamps and even some extra stamps. I was told they were at least three sets of hands between the giver and my hands. The cards will soon be given to someone at the jail who will distribute them to the prisoners who will hopefully write a message to family members they will be unable to celebrate the holidays with this year.

Think of all the people involved in the process. Be thankful for each one. I’m especially thankful for the lady who purchased the cards and the stamps because she saw the need and a way to “step-in” and help. God bless each of you who take part in this and other mission opportunities to share God’s love.

I’m thankful for each person who is participating in getting the cards for the inmates. God can use all of us in different ways if we are willing!

Sunday School Lesson

The lesson for today involves telling the Israelites they have finally arrived and are looking into the “Promised Land”. They are encouraged by a special message from God to do what can lead to their families being blessed there for many generations as they continue to serve Him. It was a pause that encouraged them to use the opportunity to receive such great blessing IF they continued to serve Him.

In our lives, we have opportunities to make good choices, but it has to be OUR CHOICE to follow God’s plan for our lives. Be richly blessed!

OCC Drop-Off

I want to encourage you to bring your finished shoeboxes to us today from 4-6 P.M. If you have not finished packing, please bring your boxes to us at 8 A.M. in the morning. The boxes will have a busy day and a long ride as their journey contines!

Please remember to pray over them both before and after you turn them in. They have a long journey ahead. The cartons of boxes will be handled by many people on the way to the children who will receive the shoeboxes. As you pray, don’t forget to pray for the children to learn about Jesus and to accept Him into their hearts. That’s the whole purpose – not just some gifts, but JESUS!

Thank-you for any part you played in the process! God will surely bless you!

Charles H. Spurgeon Shared this Scripture

I John 4:6

Look it up in your own Bible.

Try reading it from a different version.

Pray as God leads you today. I hope you are an active Sunday School class member. If not, today take a step in that directions a try a class. Be blessed.

Anna Lee