I know my posts haven’t been published much, but if nothing else works, I’ll get them all out to you at one time. Technology has not been my best friend lately!
I hope you are doing well with your personal Bible study and learning too. Sometimes, it is best to work on your own on your topics of choice.
Bro. Darryl used Matthew 23: 37 as a reference during the morning message a week ago. You may want to look it up, write it, and paraphrase it. Use your notebook to make some personal notes.
Antietam Guzzardo Keen passed away Sunday with funeral services Wednesday. Her obituary is located on McKneely’s web page. We were in band together at AHS. Her brother graduated with me, but passed away a few years later. Her husband, Dan, and I were teacher friends at IHS. Please pray for her family and her many church friends.
Today’s prayer focus is on all our local young men who work far from home and their families. May they know the love and watch-care of God for them and their families.
If you are unable to attend prayer meeting in person tonight, you can watch the service on the church’s website on Facebook. The time is 6:00 P.M.
Thank you for checking here each day and for praying. Anna Lee
Did God provide you with a wonderful opportunity to have a good weekend? I think He always does, but we don’t do our party. Today is a day to put on a smile and to put our best foot foot forward. Chose yo have a great week.
How is your Bible study, reading, and research coming? One of my favorite women is Dorcas. Today, I challenge you to find her and to learn what her gift was.
Today, I challenge you to encourage someone from your church. You you can choose a staff member or a volunteer. There are surely enough people who do, or who have done, meaningful things that impac5ed your life or the life of a family member. You can even choose more than one person. Thank them and encourage them to continue serving. You may even think of more than one. Choose your own way of contacting them and thanking them.
If you have not found some ways to serve Him, make this day one of your search to choose a starting point. Prayer may be your best first step.
Good morning. This is the Lord’s day! Let’s start with some Bible study time either at home and/or church. Take time to write something you learn today.
You surely have noticed a difference in my posts. I’m trying to get the hang of a different device. I’m going to work from it until I feel some confidence.
Today, let’s thank God for all the blessings of modern technology, but I also thank Him for all the simple pleasures of daily living such as sunrises, spring flowers, and a gentle breeze. I thank Him for the good days and the not so good days. I’m thankful to be able to thank Him for all the many blessings He has provided me.
Goof morning. I hope you have something a little special to do today. If not, it’s not too late to make some plans.
Did you follow my suggestion yesterday and do a little Bible research on your own? Hopefully, you enjoyed that. Today, I hope you will do more of the same, but I will offer three suggestions,. You can continue with the same topic, start a new topic, or dig deeper into your Sunday School lesson. Make your choice and get started this morning. Happy research!
Yesterday was my one year anniversary of the fall that broke both of my feet, I’ve learned a lot about being more careful, holding on to someone or something, slowing down, etc. I certainly appreciate all those who have helped me because sometimes I have been overly confident. When I go shopping or looking around, I have learned my best friend is a shopping cart. I also learned to slow down a little more and even to ask for or wait for help periodically. Knowing and trusting God has been a big encouragement. David has taken good care of me this year, saying it was payback for me taking care of him when he needed help.
Today,s prayer focus is on others and ourselves. Ask God to open our eyes to needs around us and give us a desire to help someone/others.
Pray for those who have various needs today – loss of a job, a child moving out of your home, a new baby, a job change, kitchen cabinets almost bare, a leaking roof, a relative with no home or transportation, a new health concern, new neighbors, school changes, children who none more attention, etc. Be a part of the solution. Be a prayer warrior for them without even telling them, a prayer sister or brother, or even pray for unknown needs in families.
I’m starting over because I somehow lost my post this morning.
Bible Reading Today: Geta Bible or two, a notebook, and a pen. Do some research on any topic, event, place,or person. Have fun. Learn something new. Write some notes for future reference.
Obituary – Dean Sparks passed away. His obituary is posted on McKneely’s web site. Service will be at Kedron Baptist Church.
Recognition of Graduates – Sunday morning at 10:30 at FBC,Kentwood. If you can’t be therein person, tune in to the church website towards in real time or anytime that is convenient for you.
Prayer Focus Today – Memorial Day weekend is coming soon. Pray that people will focus on “memorial”, not just holiday!
“Being a believer doesn’t shelter me from . . . .”
PRAYER FOCUS TODAY
Today, I pray for young children, nursery and preschool age. I’m thankful they have wonderful teachers anytime our church meets. That allows them to learn so much and gives their parents an opportunity to learn without having to care for their children. FBC, Kentwood has many adults who take turns teaching. They are all good with the children and excellent role models.The children also have a new, beautiful, and functional space in our newly remodeled fellowship hall building.
Parents have a choice about the children being in a special class or keeping them with their parents in the sanctuary. It is a choice parents can make. The choice the parents choose is always right. Also, as children grow, the parents can change their choice at any time.
Let’s pray for the many children who are learning to come to church and for the many volunteers who work with them. If you choose you can observe what’s happening or you can even volunteer to teach or to help the children as needed while someone else teaches.
I think their new motto could be “Come, grow with us!”Please keep the children and the adults in your prayers.
“If my new lifestyle is to reflect Jesus, . . . . “
OBITUARY
John Phillips
August 2, 1933 – May 14, 2023
John Irvin Phillips
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he died at home Sunday, May 14, 2023. He was 89 and a native of St. Helena Parish. He was a member of New Zion Baptist Church, a cattle farmer, former construction worker, a former Marine, and a graduate of Kentwood High School where he was a member of FFA, the football, basketball, and track teams.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Marilyn Bridges Phillips; daughter Rachelle and husband Otis “OT” Taylor; son William Thomas “Billy” Phillips; grandsons Phillip and wife Jennifer McDonald Taylor, John Taylor, and Samuel Taylor; great-grandchildren Lena, Lucas, and Lincoln Taylor; sister Anna Phillips Speed; nephew Clifton Thomas Speed, Sr.
Preceded in death by parents William Thomas “Willie” Phillips, Sr. and Lottie “Marie” Pike Phillips; brother William Thomas “Billy” Phillips, Jr.; brother-in-law Clarence Eddie Speed Sr.; nephew Clarence Eddie Speed, Jr.
Visitation will be held from 9:00AM until time of service at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Pine Ridge Methodist Church, 3893 Hwy. 440 Kentwood, LA 70444, with Rev. Michael Townsend officiating and Sharkey Funeral Home in charge of services. Internment will follow immediately after service at New Zion Cemetery.
Special thanks to Community Care Hospice for their help—Ashley Redmond, Ashley Thomas, Dejunna Holloway, Eric Williams; special thanks also to caregiver Joyce Ann Gilbert.
Pallbearers will be Phillip Taylor, John Taylor, Samuel Taylor, Travis Day, Kent Blades, Clint Travis.
Honorary pallbearers are Lyn Day, Clifton Speed, Sr., Jimmy Dale Newman, Barry McNabb, Wesley Blades, Kenneth “KT” Travis, Bobby Travis.
Today, let’s pray for trade schools and colleges that will be instructing our current high school graduates next year. Pray for safe environments, motivated teachers, and friends/classmates with a similar focus who will be an encouragement. Also, let’s pray churches will provide a class and motivated teachers so the students have a great class to continue to learn and serve through.
A second prayer focus will be on families as they provide proper vacations for their families this summer. More and more, we are hearing about bad things happening in environments that provide unsafe and nonChristian environments that we do not want our friends and family to be involved in. Choose carefully.
Get out and/or reach out to show some Christian love today.
Please continue to pray for Elaine Tolar Doucette. She is doing well at this stage of treatment. Her mother, Naomi Tolar, is with her as her number one cheerleader.
Mary Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Garon
August 24, 1943 – May 13, 2023
Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Mary ‘Beth’ Garon passed away with her family by her side on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the age of 79.
Beth is survived by her Husband, Joseph Brownie Garon Sr.: Sons: Joey Garon, Paul (Gerri) Garon; Daughters: Kimberly (Neil) Passey, Wendy (Adrien) Gill; Daughters-in-Law, Rodeana Garon; Sisters: Marguerite Hayden, Debbi (Dennis) Sharp; Sisters-in-law: Susan Callihan, Vera Jeanne Callihan, Daisey Callihan; Brothers-in-law: Carlo Bentivegna, Curtis Dykes; Grandchildren: Kyle Robertson, Taylor (Lucas) Linder, Mitchell Garon, Ashli (Ben) Boucum, Madison Passey, Luke Passey, Morgan Gill, and Adrien Gill, Jr.: Great-Grandchildren: Levi Baucum, Titus Baucum, Jude Baucum, Selah Baucum.
Beth in preceded in death by her Parents, Hermon Clifton Callihan Sr., Helen Aulinh Callihan; In-Laws: Leon Garon and Beatrice Garon; Brothers: HC Callihan, Terry Callihan, Lionel Callihan; Sisters Billie Strahan ( Ray), Barbara Bentivegna, Karen Dykes, Brother-in-law: Horace Hayden.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation from the chapel First Baptist Church of Arcola 64401 I-55 Frontage Rd. Roseland, LA on Friday, May 19, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. With burial to follow at Colonial Cemetery, Independence.
Brandon Thompson Funeral Home
BETH
Beth and her childhood family grew up around the corner from us. She was older than me, but her brother Lionel and brother-in-law, Curtis Dykes, were more my age. Her younger sisters were also my friends. Her family was very active in our church and her mother worked in the school cafeteria in Roseland. Beth was one of the prettiest girls I knew.
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Visitation is at First Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 9:00 AM until religious services at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
PRAYER FOCUS FOR TODAY
We always want to remember the family of a deceased person in our prayers, but today I want to ask special prayers for two families who had deaths in the family close together. The Little family of Russelltown had a two deaths about a week apart. The Lee/Shockley family of Easleyville had two deaths about six weeks apart. One death is hard enough at a time. Please pray for the Little and Lee/Shockley families.
Operation Christmas Child
Thank-you to those who have continued to donate money for purchases and postage to ship the boxes. Prices for purchases have gone up, but so has the giving.
Also, thanks to classes and individuals who have purchased items that are needed. You have done a fantastic job this year and are greatly appreciated.
Thank-you to individuals who have given time to take care of making or preparing items for shipping. You make such a difference too.
It takes many people to prepare to ship 400 boxes to children. I can’t imagine trying to do this without all the “Willing Workers” we have at our church.
We have almost completed the purchasing and are beginning our emphasis on postage. Each of the 400 boxes requires $10.00 for shipping which also includes a Bible in the language of the country where the box will be shipped and a magazine-size Sunday School book, also in the appropriate language, that contains fourteen lessons to help introduce the children to Jesus. The gifts are wonderful and life-changing because the children learn that someone loves them. On top of that, they learn of Jesus great love for them.
Thank-you for supporting this mission project through your funding, shopping, preparing, and filling shoeboxes! This is a great team project.
But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.
Today. let’s focus on the transition many families make at this time of the year, a transition from the school day schedule to a much less structured summer schedule. Pray families will choose safe, meaningful activities for the children and for days of meaningful activities to do as a family. May they choose church activities for the whole family.
The Prayer Link 
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