Good morning. God gave us another opportunity to love and serve Him, as well as to be a friend and helper to others.
Today’s Scripture
THANKFULNESS
Today, I am thankful for having a church where I can serve God and worship Him with many friends who also love Him. It’s like a second home in a familiar setting and with many familiar worshipers. There are also many new worshipers now. What a blessing!
OBITUARIES
There are no new obituaries posted today, but I would like to share that Jesse Dean of Line Creek passed away late yesterday morning in Hammond. His funeral will be Saturday at Line Creek Baptist Church. I’ll share an obituary tomorrow morning.
Also, Don Schneeweiss lost a brother.
Surgery this Afternoon
Pray for Bobby Simpson, the medical staff, and his family as he will get a pacemaker early this afternoon at North Oaks.
Reading the Bible in 2025
Thursday, November 6
Isaiah 45-48
Devotional by Rev. Charles Spurgeron
“I will pour water onto land that is thirsty. I will pour streams of water on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and I will bless them“.
Isaiah 44:3
The verse is a promise from God to provide spiritual renewal and blessings to his people, using the metaphor of water bringing life to a dry land.
Today, I am thankful for friends. As we travel out of this area, we often realize we know nobody there. When out grandchildren visited here, they always noticed how many people know us and took time to “visit”. They would ask who was driving in the car where someone waved. They lived and still live in big cities where they seldom know anyone outside of their immediate neighborhood or church. I’m thankful for living among “friends”, many “friends”!
Many area churches will have prayer meeting and other options tonight such as youth and children’s activities, missions, music rehearsals, and as always nursery care will be provided.
Operation Christmas Child
This is the season for packing shoeboxes! I’ve been getting reports about various churches packing the boxes. Great work! May you be richly blessed for your desire to tell so many others about Jesus through a filled cardboard or plastic box.
Thanksgiving Meals
Various churches will minister to others at this time of the year. Thank-you for caring and doing lots of work to bless others.
Others
Will you make a call or visit today? Will you prepare a dish or a meal? Will you deliver a plant or a meal? Will you give a ride? Will you . . . . ?
Today, I am thankful to be an American. God placed me in our great, but imperfect country, but one that was founded of Christian principles. I hope we will always strive to be a Christian nation.
Today’s Verse
Read the Bible in 2025
11-4-25
Isaiah 36-41
Sunday School Lesson
November 9
“Undivided Worship”
Deuteronomy 12:1-11 and 29-32
OCC Shoeboxes
It is the season to pack shoeboxes for children around the world and for giving children (and their families) the opportunity to learn about Jesus and to become Christians. I know of one area churches that will be packing shoeboxes TODAY and under new leadership. I thank God for their efforts to provide many children with gifts and with knowledge about being saved. Say a special prayer for the packers at 2 P.M. Also, say a prayer for the children who will receive the shoeboxes. May they not only appreciate the gifts, but also grow to love Jesus and his message for their salvation. Remember, in 2025, each shoebox will share the message of the Bible with ten people and in their very own language.
Prayer Requests
Bobby Simpson
Robbie Lynn
Dorothy Wall
Andy Taylor
Others who are listed on your personal prayer list
Additional Bible Reading”
“Walking in the Light”
6 Do not let anyone have a chance to deceive you with a false message about those kinds of bad things. God will certainly punish people who do not obey him.
Ephesians 5:6
Same verse in an easier to read version:
“Don’t let anyone fool you with words that are not true. God gets very angry when people who don’t obey him talk like that.”
I am thankful formy heritage. It seems to have focused on faith, family, and friends(others). We learned to love God and each other and to help others along the way. I’m thankful I learned those lessons early in life. I don’t think that has really changed in my life over the years.
Today’s Scripture
Baptist Press
Today’s stories center around planting new churches, disaster relief, and leadership.
David Edwin Carter passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in Tickfaw, Louisiana, at the age of 89. He was born on Monday, September 7, 1936 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi to the late Edith Carter and the late Luther Carter. He was a resident of Tickfaw, Louisiana.
David Carter worked for Wilson’s Sporting Goods in Chicago as one of the designers and as of today the NFL football that he & 2 other men designed is still in play. He also designed the first aluminum tennis rack. In 1981, David & Margaret opened David Carter Exterminating Co. in Kenner, La. that is still currently in operation. He loved fishing and hunting and feeding the deer on his property. He was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and did mission work. He started a Special needs ministry in his home in Kenner with 5 children which grew to over 200. He loved going to Kentucky to do Missions work there and participating in Operation Christmas Child. David was also President of Kenner No. Kiwanis in 1988.
David is survived by his wife, Margaret Carter; daughters, Karen Ann Carter Denham (Wayne), Kathy Marie Carter Skaggs (Tom), Diane Jewel Carter Kimbro (John), and Sandra Joyce Clark Kuhn; son, Steven Lloyd McCullough (Fran); 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and brothers, John Carter and Alan Carter (Dorothy).
He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Carter; mother, Edith Carter; daughter, Charla Smith Russel; and granddaughter, Marie Denham LeCourt.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at The River Fellowship Church, 45173 River Road, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Saturday, November 8, 2025 beginning at 11:00 AM with the memorial service starting at 1:00 PM.
(His wife, Margaret, heads-up the Operation Christmas Child in our area of Louisiana. He was her number one assistant and encourager.)
Read the Bible in 2025
November 3
Isaiah 31-35
Thank-You
A big thank-you to those who have contributed to OCC to help pay the $10.00 per box fee that covers literature, including a Bible, in the child’s language, transportation to the child, training local Christians to teach about Jesus, etc. When you think about all it covers, the fee is small. It only seems to be larger because of how many boxes are shipped.
Two Rivers WMU
Our next meeting will be at Spring Creek Baptist Church on December 6th. That’s when area churches need to turn in the Christmas cards they collect for the local inmates (Tangipahoa and St. Helena patishes).
Pine Ridge Bible Study
Wednesday, we will be on lesson 10.
OCC
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child drop-off schedule for First Baptist Church (FBC), Kentwood during the 2025 National Collection Week (November 17-24) is as follows:
Today, I am thankful to God, my Savior. I have a wonderful “retirement home” in heaven with God when my life on this earth is finished. You can make plans to have one too!
Read the Bible this Year
November 2
Isaiah 28-30
Prayer Request
Betty Simpson requests prayers for Mr. Bobby.
Linda Callihan requested prayers for Robbie Lynn.
Time Change
If you have not changed your clocks back an hour, you probably should do so before you begin your Sunday morning. Devices that change automatically are nice, but we still have several that need “personal attention”.
Obituaries
There are no new obituaries listed for our area at this time.
Sunday School
Enjoy a great lesson from Deuteronomy 6 on God’s love.
Henry Gariepy was a officer, pastor, and writer for the Salvation Army. One of his quotes is:
Out lesson is based on Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and 20-25 and titled “Love”.
Updates
Margie Williams has improved enough to go home from rehab. Pray for her as she continues to make that adjustment.
Bobby Simpson will not be having an ablation or pacemaker, just medication and monitoring. His pneumonia is better because of the antibiotics he is taking. Please keep praying for Bobby and Betty.
Caregivers are vital in many situations. Pray for Betty Simpson, Betty Taylor, and all the others who serve their loved one 24 hours a day, every day.
Funerals
Linda Graves – Today at East Fork Baptist Church
David Carter – Next Saturday at River Road Baptist Church in Hammond
Reminder
Set you clock back one hour before you go to bed tonight.
Spend some time reading your Bible and in prayer today.
Pine Ridge Bible Study
The current series of Bible study will end Wednesday. Be sure to express your thanks to Kathy Wales, Pine Ridge ladies, Linda Hendry, and all our great cooks!
Disaster Relief Teams
Pray for and support the Baptist and Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief teams as they move into areas devastated this week by the hurricane. Pray for those who are doing their best to survive in the devistated country today. Also pray for the families who lost members during the storm. Pray for these areas as they slowly recover from the hurricane and it’s damage. Thank God for volunteers who go into the area to help any way possible.
Operation Christmas Child
Pray for shoeboxes in many area churches, schools, and organizations as they are packed and made ready to deliver to one of the area drop-off locations beginning on Monday, November 1. You can check the Samaritan’s Purse site for locations, dates, and times.
If you did not pack any shoeboxes, you can contribute a monetary gift that will help then as we collect, transport, etc. the many boxes. REMEMBER, it not all about the toys, school supplies, and clothing that goes into each box. It’s about introducing people to Jesus and giving them a chance to love and serve Him the rest of their lives. The gifts are good, but Jesus is so much more!
If you pack one box, it will probably touch the lives of ten people. Just think, if you pack five shoeboxes, your boxes impact fifty lives. If you pack . . . .
Thankfulness
Every year at this time, I try to express some of my thankfulness to God. Today is November 1. My thankfulness is to God who lovingly created the world, light, people, animals, the sky, etc. He have a BIG PLAN! He didn’t have to labor for long periods of time doing so. All He did was to speak it and there it was. What a great week that was! He really loved us and still does today. Let’s love Him and thank Him.
Betty Simpson just sent a message that Mr. Bobby is in North Oaks with pneumonia and a slow heart rate. She requests we pray for him. I request prayers for both of them.
Another Request
I have a second request for prayers. Let’s pray for our country and for congress to learn to work together in Washington. Their inability to work together is affecting many people in negative ways. Let’s pray they work to do the jobs they were. elected to do. Let’s also thank God for those who have continued to work despite not being paid yet.
Linda Callihan asks for your prayers for Robbie Lynn, the daughter who is in ICU at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS. She has fluid around her heart and very low blood pressure. Linda thanks you for your prayers and continued thoughts.
Christmas Cards
The Two-Rivers WMU will be collecting new Christmas cards with holiday stamps from the post office affixed to the envelopes. Religious cards. are preferred. Your cards will be delivered to the jail in the parish where your church is located – Tangipahoa or St. Helena. These can be turned in through November and the first few days of December. (Our meeting is December 6th at Spring Creek Baptist Church.). You do not have to be a WMU member to participate. Let’s give the prisoners an opportunity to experience some Christmas family joy.
Shoeboxes
We, FBC Kentwood, have 450 filled shoeboxes packed into 30 OCC cartons and ready to deliver to the next destination. Thanks to all who volunteered and worked so long and hard to complete this step. You are GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Collection week will be November 17-24. The specific times for Kentwood can be found on the Samaritan’s Purse web-site. I’ll also post them here when it gets a little closer to that time.
A Sad Note
David Carter, husband of Margaret Carter, the leader of the Northshore area SHOEBOX program, passed away this afternoon at home. She was able to leave her husband with relatives while she conducted a meeting for drop-off location leaders last week. He was her “right-hand” helper in the shoebox work and was as dedicated as she is! I’ll post his obituary when one is available. He will be greatly missed!
25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:25-27
Fall Season
As we wake up to cooler weather, many of us are happy for the change. We enjoy the change of temperatures. Pray for those who look ahead to the cold weather with dread because of inadequate heating in their homes. As stores stock up of heating systems, let’s consider ways to help others.
The temperature feels like the upper 40’s this morning. No rain is predicted for today. Today should be perfect for visiting, doctor appointments, shopping, etc. Thank God he gave you this day to honor and serve him!
Verse of the Day
Read the Bible in 2025
October 29
Isaiah 9-12
Obituaries
Yvonne “Michelle” Pierre Willhite
December 2, 1972 – October 25, 2025
Yvonne “Michelle” Pierre Willhite has left this Earth from her physical body to join her friends and family in eternal peace and joy. She was 52 years of age and a beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, spouse, sister, friend, and much more. She held many titles within her lifetime each with its own importance to us. Her personality was unlike any others we’ve known. Kind while being fierce, smart and goofy, and always a hoot to be around. Let us not shed tears but share jokes and laughter as we mourn her passing. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Celebraation of Life Service for Mrs. Linda Graves
Location: East Fork Baptist Church (17278 Highway 1054, Kentwood, LA.)
Date: Saturday, November 1
Visitation: 10:00 to 11:30 AM
Service: 11:30 AM
*Church will be providing a meal for the family following the service
Please continue to keep this precious family in your prayers. Mrs. Linda (Graves) loved Jesus, faithfully served Him, and always had a positive attitude when it came to her faith. She was ready to go be with her Jesus, but she will definitely be missed! However for those of us who have placed our faith in the Jesus she served then this is not goodbye, just see you a little later. I know yesterday Mrs. Linda heard this verse: “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:21.
The Prayer Link 
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