For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.”
~Romans 8:38-39 (TLB)~
We have several friends who are sick. Some are here in Kentwood. Some live in other places. Think about your friends. You probably have a few you can pray for.
Wilmagene Abbott Powers
December 08, 1944 – December 01, 2020
A resident of Kentwood, LA, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at her home in Kentwood, LA. She was born December 8, 1944 in Kentwood, LA and was 75 years of age. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jimmy Powers, Sr.; sons, Barry Powers and Jimmy Powers, Jr. and wife, Rebekah; sisters, Ovelene Spears, Janice Hutchinson and husband, Stephen and Charlotte Boyer; brothers, James Abbott and Joseph Abbott; 5 grandchildren, Cody Powers, Dillion Powers, Hannah Powers, Austin Powers and Joshua Powers; 2 great-grandchildren, Dominick Powers and Bella Powers. Preceded in death by her parents, Columbus and Margaret Abbott; 1sister, Jenny Willie; 2 brothers, Paul Abbott and Charles Abbott. Visitation at Tangipahoa Baptist Church from 10:00AM until religious services at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 3, 2020. Services conducted by Bro. Greg Stewart. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Dr. Harry Eskew, a former minister of music at FBC, Amite, and a longtime professor of music at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, passed away recently. He was outstanding in the study of hymns.
Today, we will be reading Luke 2 to help us prepare for the Christmas season.
Retired missionary friends have recently traveled to this area where they will serve to help new missionaries. Missionaries in Brazil hold a special place in my heart.
Daniel 11:2-35 1 John 3:7-24 Psalm 122:1-9 Proverbs 29:1
175 Years of the IMB
Single Females Granted Appointment as Missionaries
July 12, 1871
The Foreign Mission Board appointed Lula Whilden to China, reviving the appointment of single female missionaries. She and her married sister became the first “missionary kids” (children who grow up on the mission field) to serve as Southern Baptist missionaries.
Today, let’s focus our prayer on missionarieswho give so much of themselves so others can learn how to be saved and to live their lives as a witness to others.
I wish for you a blessed December to focus on others.
Eleanor Morris called this morning from North Oaks where Buddy is a patient. She share good news and not-so-good news. The good news it that the lab reports from a recent biopsy all came back okay. The not-so-good news is that Buddy is a patient at North Oaks where he has undergone some procedures to correct a new issue. Eleanor is now able to stay with him and can leave the room to go to the cafeteria. Please keep both Buddy and Eleanor in your prayers.
Robert Prine is now at home in Osyka. Thank God for the progress Robert and Marsha have made.
Please pray for others on your personal prayer list.
New Baby!
Caroline Joy Allen
Born yesterday, 11-30-20
Lottie Moon – Day 3
Medical Missions Leads to Church Planting
175 Years of IMB
Pray for the International Mission Board as they continue to serve around the world.
Today is the first day of December. Our focus on thankfulness will continue privately. I hope you will read one chapter of Luke each day from now until Christmas.
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Lottie Moon Week of Prayer, Day 2 – “Music Fills the Airways”
Prayer Focus for Today – Warm Homes
The weather forecasters are predicting freezes tonight and tomorrow night. Today, I want to focus on those who do not have adequate heat in their homes to be comfortable during the winter months. Pray for others to recognize the need and to help them.
Operation Christmas Child
The cartons of shoeboxes are now at processing centers where they are being checked for items that are not allowed and for addition items to be added when there is more room in the boxes. Christian literature is also added in the appropriate language. Some boxes have already been shipped out to the country where they will be distributed. Pray for the volunteers at the processing centers, a good supply of fillers to help “fill” the boxes, and for the children who will receive the “shoeboxes”.
Today, I’m thankful for you. Some of you have read my “Thankfulness Thoughts” and started to consider what you are thankful for. Thanks for reading and then writing your own thoughts. We can never thank God too much! We can never pray too much! I think putting our thoughts into written words helps us to put our prayers into words too. God doesn’t need us, but He surely is pleased when we take time to appreciate what He has done for us. We should live in a spirit of thankfulness every day. Let’s share our thankful with others through words, cards, calls, and personal contacts. It will make a difference to us and to others. Live your thankfulness daily!
I want to include the Lottie Moon Week of Prayer Day one video and information about the IMB so you can pray for them.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Prayer
Day 1 – Missions On and Off the Street
International Mission Board (IMB)
175 Days of Prayer – Since 1845
CELEBRATE 175 years of continuous ministry by joining us in 175 Days of Prayer. Each day will feature one request and can be sent to you as a push notification from the IMB Pray app, accessed at imb.org/pray or the Pray Daily newsletter, or seen through IMB social media (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram).
REJOICE over what God has done and continues to do as we INTERCEDE for missionaries and for the nations.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27 2020WORLD175 Days of Prayer
Please pray for missionaries whose time on the field is cut short by unexpected events. Ask the Lord to comfort and direct them as they deal with issues which brought them back from the field: issues like long-term illness, aging parents, or a child’s development. Pray that the Lord directs them to a church community that will support and encourage them. Pray that they will have opportunities for service with their people group in the U.S. Ask God to supply their needs, whether this is a time of interruption or a complete change. Pray that God provides others to continue the ministry they left. Also lift up their children as they adjust to life in America.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 2020WORLD175 Days of Prayer
Kabyle Berbers are 10 million strong in their Algerian homeland, with another half a million in Europe. Pioneer efforts among this traditionally Muslim group began in the early twentieth century and continued until Algeria won its independence from France mid-century. These faithful pioneers saw little positive response. In the late twentieth century, these seeds of truth began to bear fruit. Kabyle believers in Europe started sharing through their heart language with Kabyles still living in Algeria. Those in the homeland began to respond positively to the good news via various media. Consequently, they are no strangers to persecution. Even so, conservative estimates point to approximately 40,000 believers in the homeland. Pray for God to help Kabyle brothers and sisters grasp the importance of being in community and under leadership. Pray for thousands of Kabyle believers to live and share among unreached cities and peoples. Ask the Lord to protect Kabyle believers from false teaching and give them the endurance to persevere and pass down their faith.
Daniel 6:1-28 2 Peter 3:1-18 Psalm 119:129-152 Proverbs 28:21-22
Most churches will be have regular and online services in our area this week. One unplanned advantage is the opportunity to participate in more than one service.
There have been many deaths in our area lately. We lost a few we knew this week. Please pray for families when they lose loved ones. Say extra prayers when the deaths happen during the holidays. Also, pray for those who are going through the holidays for the first time without their loved ones.
Thankfulness – Day 29 – Contentment
Today, I am thankful for the calm after the storm. We had a busy month and loved every minute of it, but today we are facing a routine Sunday and a less eventful month. David and I look forward to being together, enjoying the changing weather, cooking some cold weather foods, drinking hot coffee and chocolate, sharing with others, and staying in a little more than usual. I plan to spend some time playing catch-up with my Bible reading for 2020 so I can start a new plan in 2021. I’m thankful for a season of being more laid back and enjoying the contentment we have been blessed with. I hope you can find contentment in your world too. Contentment is a real blessing!
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
~Romans 14: 17-19~
Read the Bible in 2020 – Nov. 28
Daniel 5:1-31 2 Peter 2:1-22 Psalm 119:113-128 Proverbs 28:19-20
Roy Otis Benefield
August 29, 1938 – November 26, 2020
A resident of Osyka, MS, passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center in McComb, MS. He was born August 29, 1938 in Osyka, MS and was 82 years of age. He is survived by his life long companion, Anita Speed; sister, Marie Bass; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Amelia Benefield; brothers, Walter Benefield, E.W. Benefield, Paul Benefield, and Frank Benefield. Graveside Services will be held at Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA at 11:00AM on Monday, November 30, 2020. Pallbearers will be Doug Benefield, Ben Guillory, Moose Tolbert, Cole Kent, Kyle Kent, Chad Strickland, Cody Guillory and Jeff Connelly. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.
Thomas Lester Zachary
June 19, 1925 – November 22, 2020
Mr. Thomas Lester Zachary passed away November 22, 2020 at 6:15 pm in Amite, Louisiana. He was born June 19, 1925 at home on the Zachary farm in St. Helena Parish and lived there the rest of his life. For more than half a century he was a hard working dairy farmer shipping his Golden Guernsey milk to Kleinpeter Farms Dairy. At age 6 he received his first fox dog which sparked the beginning of his passionate hobby of fox hunting for more than 80 years. With his dry sense of humor and his kind, gentle, soul, he never met a stranger. He was know as the local oral historian on all things related to St. Helena. He loved to share this knowledge with his gift of gab. Lester was a devoted and lifelong member of his beloved Kedron Baptist Church that was founded and built by his great grandfather John Lewis Zachary and his grandfather, Jehu B. Zachary. He served as a song leader, Sunday school teacher, cemetery coordinator and most notably served as a deacon for more than 60 years. He is survived by his three children, Barbara Zachary Mena (Raul) California, Thomas Lester Zachary, Jr. Hillsdale, and Lisa Zachary Klemm (William) Missouri. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren Steven Zachary Mena Colorado, Lee Thomas Zachary (Jordan) Denham Springs, Jason Avery Zachary (Andrea Scott) Prairieville, and Elizabeth Lee Klemm Missouri, one great-grandchild, Ava Rayne Zachary, his loving sister, Ruby Loura Stevens and many caring nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Oma Bridges Zachary, his grandson, Brandon Lester Zachary, his parents, Dudley Erwin Zachary and Louella Robertson Zachary, one sister, Vera Zachary McGee and one brother, Erwin Prentice Zachary. We wish to extend the utmost appreciation for the care and love that “Paw Paw” received at Tangi Pines Nursing Center. A private graveside service was held at Kedron Baptist Cemetery on November 25, 2020, led by Brother Jake Williams. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Kedron Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Susie Sharkey, 70342 Kennedy Road, Kentwood, LA 70444 in his memory.
Melissa “Missy” Williams
05/19/1964 – 11/26/2020
A loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend went to her eternal home on Thursday, November 26, 2020. She was 56 years old. Missy loved watching the LSU Tigers and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter, Rachel Fullagar; son, Cody Williams and wife, Bailey; two grandchildren, Brayden and Cooper Williams; brother, James Goynes Jr.; sister, Beth Doucet (Jerry); brother-in-law, Ted Bacot and numerous nieces and nephews. Missy will be deeply missed by all of her family, friends, and coworkers at the KOA campground. She never met a stranger and loved helping everyone around her, kindness was her gift. Visitation will be held at Seale Funeral Home, on Sunday November 29, 2020 from 1pm until Celebration of Life Service at 3pm, conducted by Rev. Herman Holland. She was preceded in death by her parents, J. M. and Teenie Goynes, and her sister Sue Bacot.
Prayer Focus Today – Families Who are Mourning
There have been a number of deaths in the last few weeks and months. Each death leaves behind a family and friends network that will face the holidays with uncertainly, because they have always had others in their lives who are no longer there. Pray for the remaining family members as they adjust the holiday traditions and make new traditions. It’s not always easy, but. with God, it is always possible.
Thankfulness – Day 28
Today, I am thankful for a daughter-in-law who is both fun and thoughtful, creative, yet full of tradition, and open to new activities, as well as willing to do for her family so everyone will have a good family experience. She is a perfect match for our son and a wonderful mother to two special grandchildren. She can be the life-of-the-party or the quiet, thinking ahead person. If you know her, you will agree. If you don’t know her, you have missed out.
God has great things planned for today. Don’t miss His blessings for you!
Marsha Prine is home, but Robert is now hospitalized. Pray for this family and the other families having covid issues. There continue to be several families struggling to return to better health.
MISSY GOYNES passed away. Please be in prayer for her family and many friends.
There have been a few other deaths this week. Let’s say special prayers for each family.
Read the Bible in 2020 – November 27
Daniel 4:1-37 2 Peter 1:1-21 Psalm 119:97-112 Proverbs 28:17-18
Each Thanksgiving, I think of the Thanksgiving many years ago when my cousin’t grandfather passed away. My aunt and uncle drove to our house from the hospital just in time to sit with us for our big family meal. The phone rang. My uncle’s dad had passed away. That is my first sad memory of a holiday. I have more I can add, but today let’s focus on the families who are having difficult holidays because of sickness or death. Pray for them. Let them know you care.
THANKFULNESS – HARD TIMES
Today, I want to thank God for the hard times in my life. They give me reasons to recognize and be thankful for the good times. We all know we cannot live with “mountain-top experiences” every day, but those experiences in the valleys make it clear that we learn and grow there. I have friends in the “valleys” today. Let’s lift them up in our prayers. Today, is one of my “mountain top” days. I’m thankful for it, but know it is not permanent. May we all learn to appreciate and thank God for each day! Each day is a gift!
In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Pray for all those who are hospitalized on today’s holiday. I hope that despite their health issues they can find many reasons to be thankful.
Pray for those who are back in the hospital for Covid-19 related issues. It seems that many people are testing negative, but still having some symptoms that are not completely leaving. Some who “recovered” recently and some who recovered months ago still seem to have lingering issues.
Missy Goynes, a former student, is in Ochsner following a massive heart attack. Her condition is very serious. Please join with her family, friends, and classmates to pray for her.
Daniel 2:24-3:30 1 Peter 4:7-5:14 Psalm 119:81-96 Proverbs 28:15-16
Thankfulness – Day 26
Today, I’m thankful for caring people who go out of their way to express concern. Concern can be expressed by words, actions, and prayers. Prayers are not old-fashioned and out-of-style. joining together to pray for a person or a situation touches my heart. I know God is pleased when a group of people have faith that is expressed through prayers.
On this special holiday, be sure to take time to express your thanks to God and to others.
The Prayer Link 
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