I hope you are finding this doesn’t take “all day” to accomplish and are enjoying reading some passages you haven’t read lately.
Operation Chirstmas Child, OCC ,functions best with lots of people involved. Coming soon: “Helping Hands”, your opportunity to help using your sewing talents, using your counting abilities, using your painting talents, using you shopping talents, using your organizing talents, using your collecting talents, using your repurposing talents, etc. There is a need for your talent! Pay attention for the upcoming announcements about how you can help. Also, we will soon be working on shopping talents. If you can help, please let me know.
Let’s end the day with a bit of good news. Mr. “Cete” Dillon may get to come home today.
John and Kirstin Lee Antoon proudly announced the birth of their son last week. Beckham Richie Antoon was born January 4, 2021 at 1:21 P.M. weighing in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 19.6 inches long. His three sisters are enjoying having their brother at home.
Mrs. Mildred Birch asks for prayers for her daughter and son-in-law, RHONDA AND ALLEN MCGEHEE, who have covid. She is home, but he is hospitalized. “Miss” Mildred lost a good friend, her brother, and now has this concern. Pray for her as you pray for her family.
As you pray for the McGehees, please also pray for all the others who are sick with covid. Several of our friends seem to be “holding their own” at this time.
The people whose home burned last week have received clothing from some of you. Thank-you for your quick responses. More clothing appropriate for the cold weather would also be helpful. Donations can be dropped off at Larry Miller’s home. He will deliver to the family.
Operation Christmas Child, 2021 is beginningat FBC, Kentwood! Be thinking about how you will donate items, money, or time/talents. All are appreciated and will benefit poor children in the form of a “shoebox” filled with school supplies, hygiene items, fun toys, and a book & opportunity to “meet” Jesus! The shoeboxes will travel and “speak” to the children in places where we will never have the opportunity to visit or “share Jesus”.
If you are not attending church in person, online services are available from many church services. Services from FBC, Kentwood will be streaming at 10:30 A.M. and 6 P.M. Sometimes, I watch several churches. I can hear former pastors, pastors I have known a long time but never heard, enjoy music at other churches, watch multiple holiday programs, see grandchildren from another state, etc. If you attend church in person, you have the option to hear a sermon again, visit other churches, etc.
Today, is a good day to think of others. You might want to update your personal prayer list, share an inspirational book/magazine, write notes to others, call and check on friends and relatives, cook/bake something to share, etc.
It has been nice to hear of “baby-steps” of improvement from several of my friends who are hospitalized. Don’t always took for an instantaneous total improvement. Celebrate each little improvement.
It is never too late to give to the Lottie Moon Offering for international missions or any other offering.
I’ve been doing some sewing for Operation Christmas Child. Yesterday, a man told me his church had already turned in their shoeboxes. He was surprised to hear me say the items are for Christmas, 2021. Today, FBC, Kentwood will share some photos of OCC, 2020. It’s never too early to begin working. With more time to work, more boxes can be packed!
“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
~1 Corinthians 1:4, 7 (NLT)~
Chronological Bible Reading – January 9
GENESIS 25:27-28:5
Mr. “Cete” Dillon is in rehab in Kentwood at Ltach. He is in room 11 where the phone number is229-9193.
Several friends who have covid are doing a little better. It is very hard on the patient and the family to not be together. Please pray for all the covid families.
Thanks to those of you who have stepped up and donated clothing to the family whose home was destroyed by fire Thursday.
Please continue to pray for our country, its leaders, and all the people. Pray for God’s wisdom and His leadership.
Pray today for the church services that will be held tomorrow. Pray for pastors as they prepare to share the message God lays on their hearts and musicians who prepare and share the wonderful music that touches our hearts. Pray for listening ears and receptive hearts. Pray for technology and tech crews as they work to get the services out to those of you who are unable to attend at this time.
Please contact Larry Miller if you can help a fire victim, Michael, with 36″ pants and XL shirts and coats. You can ask Larry about other items that might be needed.
(The fire must have rekindled last night because the fire trucks made return trips about 10 last night. I don’t have any additional information.)
Prayer Focus for Today
Just as Larry stepped up yesterday to help Michael, pray God will give you opportunities to identify and meet needs of those around us. During the coming cold days, there may be special needs in families around you. Pray for God’s guidance in helping others.
Charles Timothy Bean October 27 1963 January 06 2021
Mr. Charles Timothy Bean, 57, a resident of Liberty, died January 6, 2021 at Singing River Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was born October 27, 1963 in Magnolia, Mississippi. He was the son of the late Billy Bean, Sr. and Gwendolyn Lawson Bean. He was a member of Gillsburg Baptist Church and an avid Ole Miss fan. He was especially fond of the ASC’s. He loved gospel music, and he and his mother attended many gospel concerts. Tim loved the Gillsburg Community and all its’ people. He is preceded in death by his parents. Mr. Bean is survived by two brothers, Barry Bean and wife Roxanne of Madison, MS and Billy Bean, Jr. of Gillsburg; two sisters, Jane Harden and husband Eddie of Montgomery, Texas and Robin and husband Kyle of Mandeville, Louisiana; three nephews, Brent Bean and wife Lauren, Brandon Kent and wife Annie, Brennan Kent and wife Whitney; five nieces, Brooke Havard and husband Brad, Shannon Carmody and husband Chase, Brittan Colvin, Megan Colvin, and Blair Kent; great-nephews, Brayden Havard, Braxden Havard, and Bryson Havard; great-nieces, Collins Carmody, Kimberly Blake Bean, Brooklyn Bean, and Addie Grace Kent. Pallbearers will be his nephews and great-nephews Brent Bean, Brandon Kent, Brennan Kent, Brad Havard, Brayden Havard, Chase Carmody, Eryn West, Bryson Havard, and Braxden Havard. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at the Gillsburg Baptist Church Cemetery. The Reverend Victor Walsh and Austin Bean will officiate. Hartman-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
We’ve had a fire in the neighborhood. The house was a total loss. Larry Miller has requested men’s clothing for Michael. He wears 36 men’s clothes and size XL shirts and coats. That’s all the information, I have for now. Please get your donations to Larry as soon as possible. Thank-you for reaching out to help. If you have any questions, please contact Larry Miller.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,
you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
~James 1:3-4 (NLT)~
Please pray forGerald Hyde, Andy Taylor, and others with pneumonia.
I know of several people who are fighting a battle for their lives in area hospitals. You probably do too. Remember, as you pray for them ,to pray for their families and for the medical staff working with them. I cannot imagine, but I do understand, not being with my loved ones during the fight for their lives. I can easily understand how important those phone calls from the nurses to the families are. Please say special prayers for the many families and medical personal in this situation.
Pray for the Bean Family from Gillisburg in the loss of Tim Bean. He was a joy and a blessing to the family all his life. To know him was to love him!
Read the Bible in 2021 -January 7
GENESIS 21:8-23:20 GENESIS 11:32 GENESIS 24:1-67
Today’s Prayer Focus – Our Country
Pray for the people of our country, the leaders, the police, and all the common folks. We know our great country is not perfect, but also know it was not well represented by the actions we saw in Washington yesterday. Let’s pray for our country to turn back to the value-system upon which our country was founded, based on faith and love of God.
“‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”
~John 6:5-6 (NIV)~
Mr. “Cete” Dillon is scheduled for moving from the hospital to a rehab facility in Kentwood today. Pray all goes well for and during the transfer. “Miss” Ruby is doing well at home.
John Henson and Kim King Henson are learning how to manage with him at home following his stroke. He will be in rehab soon. There will be a benefit jambalaya lunch for John on Thursday, January 14th. Sim Bankston is the cook. The meal will be $8.00 and consists of jambalaya, cole slaw, baked beans, bread, and dessert. Meals can be picked up at Roseland Baptist Church between 11:00 and 12:30. Contact Sim Bankston on Facebook for tickets and any questions you might have.
Read the Bible in 2021 – January 6
GENESIS 18:1-21:7
I love rereading the Bible stories I learned in my youth. I hope you are enjoying this plan too.
If you did not start on January 1, it is not too late to begin. You can catch up in a couple of days. Look back on my posts or get a hard copy from FBC, Kentwood.
Begin to pray about your part in collection of materials to be used in packing the shoeboxes this year. Enjoy the photos for the 2020 packing year Sunday.
We are already working on shoeboxes. Some items we will need are coloring books, $1.00 calculators, erasers, scissors, pencil sharpeners, and pens. Thank-you for helping us pack 400 shoeboxes and lots of extra pencil bags of school supplies.
Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
I don’t know how much has been given this year, but I do know it is never too late to give. You can give through the regular offering opportunities or at the office any time they are open.
David and I got the first covid vaccination yesterday and will get the second one in three weeks. We look forward to being less homebound soon.
IF YOU HAVE A PRAYER REQUEST, AN UPDATE, A CORRECTION, A CHURCH EVENT, ETC. THAT YOU WOULD LIKE SHARED ON TPL, please send me a message by clicking on “Contact” at the top right of this page or by calling me.
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