Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell is hospitalized in Greensburg. Please pray for her and Mr. Phillis, their family, and the medical staff caring for her.
Daddy came home tonight. He will have at least four appointments this week. We still don’t have a diagnosis. Keep praying. Pray for Momma too. These last few days have been tiring for her.
Jesse Dean has been admitted to North Oaks. Please be in prayer for him as he undergoes tests.
Daddy has not been released yet. There may be a new concern. Keep on praying.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites!
They love to stand up and pray
in the houses of worship and on the street corners,
so that everyone will see them.
I assure you, they have already been paid in full.
~Matthew 6:5 (TEV)~
Caring Bridge
Thanks for the prayers for Daddy. He seems better already and is looking forward to being released from the hospital.
HOW DO YOU build a “sanctuary” in your busy life; a place where you can meet with God…?
Build a “closet.”
Isaac’s closet was in a field ( Genesis 24:63). Peter’s closet was on a housetop ( Acts 10:9).
You must fashion your own.
It may mean leaving the kids with your spouse, while you sit out on the back porch with a cup of coffee and your Bible for fifteen minutes.
It may mean snatching a few minutes when your baby is taking his or her afternoon nap.
For those who have a long drive to work, your sanctuary may be in your car with a CD player. It may mean posting a passage of Scripture near your steering wheel, where you can meditate and pray about it during the time that you drive.
It may mean reading your Bible during your lunch break at work.
It may mean taking the first ten minutes to read and pray in your office each morning.
It may mean putting your tennis shoes on and going for a walk with your Bible in hand.
It may mean sitting in your garage or workshop with a CD player to listen to sermons.
It’s not what the sanctuary looks like or where it is that matters. It’s what you do there that makes it a meaningful place. The sanctuary does not provide rest. What takes place there in the desert is what refreshes the inner man. (Steve Farrar)
“But you, when you pray, go into your room,
and when you have shut your door,
pray to your Father who is in the secret place;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
Ora Lee Wilson’s sister passed away today. The wake will be from 5:00 – 9:00 Monday and the from 8:00 – 11:00 Tuesday at Seale Funeral Home in Denham Springs. I’ll post an obituary later.
God showed his great love for us
by sending Christ to die for us
while we were still sinners.
~Romans 5:8 NLT~
Mason Carter’s surgery went well yesterday morning. Thank you for praying for him.
Harrell Sharkey continues to have additional tests to help identify his problem. Pray for a diagnosis so treatment can begin.
Jesse Dean was injured at work Thursday. Pray for him as he seeks relief from back pain.
Rev. Bobby Eads has been hospitalized for heart issues. He’s home now. Keep Bobbie and Suzie in your prayers.
Daddy was admitted to North Oaks last night. He had a lot of tests yesterday afternoon and night. Pray for Daddy and Momma as they are separated during this time. They are usually together 24 hours a day every day! This is the first time I can remember him being in the hospital overnight. It’s also difficult for Momma and Daddy because they are together 24 hours of every day and have been that way since Daddy retired.
Lerlene Allen Johnson
(June 18, 1926 – April 9, 2010)
A resident of Amite, died at 1 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2010 at her residence. She was born June 18, 1926 in Amite and was 83 years of age. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Services conducted by Bro. Marshall Wallace. Interment Briar Patch Cemetery, Loranger. Survived by daughter, Shearon J. Koleszar, Amite, 4 sons, Roger Johnson, Amite, Thearon Johnson, Amite, Wesley Johnson, Amite, and Galen Johnson, Amite, sister, Mary J. King, Amite, 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by parents, William and Mattie Ballard Allen, 3 brothers, Benjamin Allen, James Allen, and Charles Allen, granddaughter, Kristie Koleszar.
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
WHEN SOMEONE HAS just become a Christian and started out in the Christian life, what advice would you give that person about Bible classes…?
Would you say, “Now the church has Bible classes every Sunday and Wednesday, but they aren’t really important. That the church assembles on Sunday night but you do not have to go if you do not want to”? Or would you say to a son or daughter, “I know that you would like to go today, but I want to read the paper, or I want to sleep late this morning, and I don’t think those Bible classes are to important anyway”?
What advice would you give…?
When we willfully neglect the services (as some are doing) we are telling our children and those around us that the church is not important to us. Our children may even feel the church is not important enough to become members of it. Then what could we say for ourselves? Could we say, “Lord, I did my best to teach them the true value of the church–I did this by going and taking them to every service?” via Main Street Monitor, Manchester, TN
Have a great weekend!
Anna Lee
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
IMB
Friday, April 9, 2010
“Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world . . .
I was in prison and you came to Me.”
~Matthew 25:34,36b, NKVJ~
Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, encouraging you to pray for ministry to prisoners.
Several years ago, a young Central Tibetan man, R, was wrongly accused of stealing and put into prison without any type of trial. His sisters are strong believers and shared quite a lot about Jesus with him, both before his incarceration and during visits to see him, but his religious background kept him in bondage. R recently experienced physical release from prison; pray that he, and all the Central Tibetans in Asia, will experience spiritual release from their traditional beliefs and live in the freedom of Christ.
B, who has been in a Somali prison since last year, was recently granted a release, in answer to your prayers. However, the head of the prison refuses to honor the court’s decision and let B go free. Please ask the Lord to move in the official’s heart, and pray that B’s actual release will come quickly. This official has also refused the release of other prisoners because of financial or political pressure.
IMB mobilizer Paul Lambach, who serves at the Equatorial Baptist Seminary in Belem-Para, asks prayer for these needs: “1) Give thanks that we had almost 20 in attendance at the Monday morning chapel at the men’s prison in Americano. Eight of those were first-time visitors interested in studying the Gospel of John. Leaders from two of the units are interested in starting our Basic Theology extension course in those units. 2) Thank the Lord that more than 20 people attended Tuesday morning chapel at Massafra Construction Supplies. Pray for seminary students to preach in this weekly chapel.”
* Please pray for Paul Lambach as he attempts to set up the first seminary extension in a men’s prison.
* Intercede for R to accept salvation and for B to be released without further delay.
* Ask God to show you how you can support local jail ministries
Pray for Mason Carter as he has sinus surgery at 11:00 this morning in McComb.
Pray for my daddy, Grant Smith. He’s not been feeling well this week and had to see a doctor yesterday evening.
Continue to pray for Ora Lee Wilson’s family. As the family was sitting with Barbara, Barbara’s husband had to receive medical treatment. Ora Lee’s aunt’s obituary is below.
Luzina Penton “Miss Dood” Branch
(July 17, 1925 – April 6, 2010)
LUZINA PENTON “Miss Dood” BRANCH, age 84
and a resident of the Hilltop Community died at 11:15 PM Tuesday at her residence. She was a member of the Hilltop Missionary Baptist Church and the widow of Delos Branch.
Survived by: Numerous nieces and nephews 3 sisters in law: Helen Branch of Hilltop Vergie Branch Mattie Penton both of Stateline She was also preceded in death by her parents John and Louisa Branch Penton; a sister Edwena Bedwell; 5 brothers Ancil Penton, William “Bill” Penton, Odean Penton, Wilson Penton and Edsel “Pete” Penton; a half brother J.E. Wheat.
Visitation at Crain Funeral Home from 5 PM until 9 PM Friday. Visitation will continue after 9 AM Saturday at Hilltop Missionary Baptist Church until time for the funeral service at 11 AM with Eld. Mark Hobgood, Eld. Edward Penton and Eld. Duane Ball officiating. Interment in the church cemetery. Obituaries can be viewed online at http://www.crainfh.com
Continue to pray for my Texas relatives. They are dealing with a brain tumor, three with Huntington’s disease, MS, etc. Pray they will continue to turn to God and realize He’s walking through their difficult journey with them.
CaringBridge
Helen Toney Basso
(July 18, 1930 – April 7, 2010)
A resident of Independence, LA, died at 10:45PM on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA after a battle with pneumonia. She was born July 18, 1930 in Independence, LA and was 79 years of age. Mrs. Basso was a retired caregiver at Hammond Developmental Center, Hammond. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. on Saturday April 10, 2010 until religious services at 11:30a.m. Saturday. Services conducted by Bro. Kenneth Istre. Interment Colonial Mausoleum, Independence, LA. Survived by son and daughter-in-law, Calvin J. “Tugar” Basso, Jr. and Anne Liuzza Basso, Independence, 3 sisters, Pat Cleveland, Beulah Hoover and her husband, Leo, and Joyce Easley and her husband, Wilson, and family dog, Brody Basso. Preceded in death by husband, Calvin J. Basso, Sr., parents, Henry P. and Opal Bennett Toney, and brother, John H. Toney. Flowers are welcome or donations can be made to the Tangipahoa Council on Aging.
IS YOUR HOUSE A MESS?
I recently heard the following story:
“My daughter Michelle is the commander of a Coast Guard Cutter. When she gave my husband Bob a tour of her ship, he was impressed by the neatness of all decks.
“However, when Bob went to Michelle’s house with her, he couldn’t believe the disorganization. ‘Why is everything in its place on your ship,’ he asked, ‘but your house is such a mess?’
“‘My house,’ Michelle said, ‘does not take 30-degree rolls.’”
I found the story quite humorous, but it made me wonder. How often do others notice that things are just fine in our workplace, but not at home? Things may be “in its place” at work (and elsewhere), but at home things are “a mess.” One of the saddest passages in the Bible is found in I Samuel 8:1-3:
“Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel…But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.”
Here was Samuel – a great prophet, one of the greatest men in the Bible, arguably one of the godliest men in all of history, but his sons didn’t follow after his example. Some commentators have speculated that it was at least partly due to the fact that Samuel traveled around Israel fulfilling his responsibilities as a prophet (I Sam. 7:15-16), neglecting his family in the process.
It’s a problem that everyone who works struggles with, but especially preachers because we often view our work as being done “for God” so we feel justified in pouring more of our time and effort into our work. But there is always the danger — the temptation – that we may be neglecting things at home.
Early in my ministry, my wife used to complain, “You always have time for anybody else who comes to you with a problem, but you can’t find time for me.” There were times she was right. I felt compelled to make sure that everything was in order at “work”, but I sometimes allowed things at home to be a “mess.” I’m sure there were many times my children felt the same way. I would like to think that I’ve learned from my mistakes and have a better balance now.
My message today comes with an encouragement for all of you who work to make an assessment of your own. Are you more interested in keeping things in order at work than you are at home? May God help each of us as we strive to fulfill our God-given responsibilities to our spouses and children.
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Please feel free to share your requests, praises, and updates so we can pray for you. Have a fantastic Friday!
Anna Lee
“If you put your trust in the love of Jesus Christ,
your sins are wiped out,
‘There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ.'”
~Romans 8:1 NLT~
Pray for the Gehringer family as they have the service for Frank today at 11:00. Continue to pray for them in the coming days.
Pray for my former student, Charlotte, as they have services for her husband Saturday.
Pray for other families who have lost loved ones lately. The grieving is not over when the services are over.
Donald J. Forsyth, Jr. was born July 12, 1964 and passed away at 5:55 a.m., Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at his residence. He was 45, a native of Lutcher and a resident of Amite.
Donald is survived by wife, Charlotte Whitener Forsyth, Amite; a son, Skylar Singleton, Amite; mother, Mary Grace Forsyth, Gonzales; 2 sisters, Cindy Melancon and husband, Jeff, and their children, Jordan and Brooke, Gonzales and Melanie Schexnaydre and husband, Charles, and their children, Lauren and Alex, Prairieville; mother and father-in-law, Wilson “Dub” and Gail Whitener, Amite; sister-in-law, Lisa Carruth and husband Danny, and their son, Landon, Greensburg; godchildren, Landon Murphy, Lauren Schexnaydre and Brooke Melancon; godmother, Julie Cambre, Luling; godfather, Vinzule Bourgeois, Jr., LaPlace; his beloved pets, “Harley” & “Tib”.
Preceded in death by his father, Donald J. Forsyth, Sr.; paternal grandparents, Armaize and Godfrey Forsyth; maternal grandparents, Grace and Vinzule Bourgeois, Sr.
Donald was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He worked as a driver SAIA Motor Freight for 22 years.
Visitation at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Darryl Miller officiating. Interment in Hillsdale Cemetery.
Pall Bearers; Skyler Singleton, Charles Schexnaydre, Jeff Melancon, Landon Murphy, Al Glover, Russ Jenkins, Danny Carruth, Brian Kirkland and David Kirkland.
An on-line Guestbook and to view a Video tribute is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com
McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.
Frank Gehringer was a resident of Kentwood who died at 8:55 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He was born May 19, 1965 in Baton Rouge and was 44 years of age. He had a love for working on anything mechanical from a small child. He continued this passion his entire life. He was employed by the local Ford dealership where he was a certified Ford Diesel Technician and was a member of First Baptist Church, Kentwood, LA. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller and Rev. Danny Smith. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by Son, Gavin Gehringer, Kentwood, daughter, Lauren Gehringer, Kentwood, parents, Frankie and Fay Gehringer, Kentwood, sister, Jennifer Gehringer, Kentwood. Preceded in death by grandparents, Mildred and Robert Miscar, Iley Gentry, and Frank and Estelle Gehringer, 2 uncles, Dr. Gerald Gehringer, Fred Gill, and brother-in-law, Ken Lee. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, AWANA Children’s Fund, 310 Ave. E, Kentwood, LA 70444. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.
HAVE YOU EVER felt truly alone…?
After my father died, I gathered with our family at a funeral home to choose the casket and arrange specifics for the memorial service. As I drove away from the funeral home, I made it only about two hundred yards before I broke down and wept, and had to pull the car over and stop.
This wasn’t the first time I’d cried after my father’s death, but it was the first time I’d cried alone, and the tears and the grief were so strong. Cars streamed past me, their passengers and drivers unaware of what was taking place in my car, and I vividly remember how alone I felt.
But in truth I wasn’t alone, because only two hundred yards away were people who loved me with all their hearts. To be comforted, all I needed to do was turn around and go back to the funeral home. I felt alone–but I really wasn’t.
For me, personally, the sense of aloneness in that moment was overwhelming; yet I know that many others have experienced far worse than anything I went through. Many have wept as I did, but could never be assured there was someone nearby they could turn to for comfort, whether two hundred yards away or two hundred miles.
And yet, even in comparison to such unbearable experiences, there’s Someone else whose pain of isolation and abandonment goes infinitely deeper.
Before being nailed to the cross, Jesus already knew what it meant to be forsaken; He had become intimately acquainted with being rejected or abandoned by men. Yet whenever it happened, He could always say, “Though forsaken by men, I am not alone, for My Father is always with Me.”
But not now.
He who for all eternity has never been alone is now wholly abandoned. Such utter desolation has never existed before in all eternity, because of the infinite love and fellowship of the Godhead, which can never be broken. But not the incarnate Son must be forsaken by the Father…because the Father is holy, and there in the Father’s sight is “the most grotesque display of ugliness imaginable.” It’s the monstrous sight of the unbounded totality of human sin resting upon one Man.
Therefore that Man must be utterly removed from the presence of the holy God, utterly separated, as far as the east is from the west.
Jesus didn’t just feel forsaken; He is forsaken. (C.J. Mahaney)
KneEmail: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” ( Matt. 27:46).
Posted by Mike Benson at January 15, 2009 12:16 PM
Do something special for someone today.
Anna Lee
Jeanne Bond Tate asks for prayer for her family, especially her “Granny”, Mrs. Alice Wilson, who is dying from complications of a massive stroke. “Granny” has always been very special to Jeanne. Please honor her prayer request.
Ora Lee Wilson would appreciate prayers for her family. Her sister, Barbara, was taken off life support today in Baton Rouge. Also, Ora Lee’s 85 year old aunt died this morning in a house fine in the Pine area. Robert and Ora Lee have had a number of losses lately. Please say special prayers for them.
There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today,
gone tomorrow.
But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
~2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG)~
CaringBridge: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/larkindorris/journal
Please pray for the prayers that people have but are unable to speak or put in writing. Sometimes people just have things on their hearts that they cannot share yet.
Pray for the many families in our area who are grieving the loss of a family member or dear friend.
TODAY’S PRAYER
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
APRIL 7, 2010
“But you are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
~1 Peter 2:9~
WORLD LEADERS. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Please pray today for Chief Minister Tony Brown of Isle of Man (western Europe, between Great Britain and Ireland).
DECCANI MUSLIMS OF INDIA (deh-KAH-nee). Recently one local pastor stood and taught more than 40 others how to share Christ among the Deccani Muslims! This is an answer to prayer–to see others trained and rise to the challenge to train still others to make disciples from the Deccani Muslim communities. This has been a rare occurrence due to the historic “separateness” between religious communities in India. Many Christians remain passive towards the Muslim community–but not this one pastor! God has given him a growing passion to see God’s glory cover the Deccani Muslims as the waters cover the sea (see Habakkuk 2:14). Praise God for His answer to prayer: raising up others from within His church as laborers for the field–even training others to do the same! http://www.go2southasia.org/
NYUNGWE OF MOZAMBIQUE (NYUN-gway). Join the Nyungwe Team in giving thanks to God that the first teaching time in February went very well. As you prayed, the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way as leaders studied God’s Word together. They also worked on how to give a testimony, and then everyone shared their testimonies with the group. One leader who had inherited the leadership of a church by default, even though he himself was not a believer, came to Christ through the testimony time! The group decided to have the next teaching time in September. Ask the Father to continue to work in the lives and hearts of these leaders.cknalls@gmail.com; http://thenalls.wordpress.com/
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor
GOD’S PLAN OF salvation has completely leveled the playing field…
In almost every area of life people have some kind of advantage. In the system called Christianity, all so-called advantages disappear. This is conclusive proof that God views the prominent people of society in the same way as factory workers and housewives. Men may put more value on the converted souls of the rich, powerful, well-educated and “well-connected,” but God does not.
An elderly couple had worked in Africa for many years. They were returning to the United States on an ocean liner. On this same ship was President Teddy Roosevelt (he was returning from a big game hunting expedition). The missionary couple watched the fanfare given the President and his entourage. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet him. The Mayor was there to welcome him. Several newspapers had sent reporters to cover his return.
During the commotion the missionary couple slipped quietly off the ship and found a cheap apartment. They had no pension, were in poor health, and felt discouraged. The husband was especially disturbed. He could not understand how God would allow the President to be treated so well while the years of service he and his wife had offered seemed to be unnoticed and unappreciated. He claimed that God was being unfair to them. He bitterly complained to his wife. She finally turned to him and said, “We’re not home yet.” Brad Price
“And the base things of the world
and the things which are despised God has chosen,
and the things which are not,
to bring to nothing the things that are,
that no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God–
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption–
that, as it is written, ‘
He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.'”
1 Cor. 1:28-30
Frankie Lester Gehringer, III
(May 19, 1965 – April 5, 2010)
A resident of Kentwood, died at 8:55 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 2010 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. He was born May 19, 1965 in Baton Rouge and was 44 years of age. He had a love for working on anything mechanical from a small child. He continued this passion his entire life. He was employed by the local Ford dealership where he was a certified Ford Diesel Technician and was a member of First Baptist Church, Kentwood, LA. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday and from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Joey Miller and Rev. Danny Smith. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA. Survived by Son, Gavin Gehringer, Kentwood, daughter, Lauren Gehringer, Kentwood, parents, Frankie and Fay Gehringer, Kentwood, sister, Jennifer Gehringer, Kentwood. Preceded in death by grandparents, Mildred and Robert Miscar, Iley Gentry, and Frank and Estelle Gehringer, 2 uncles, Dr. Gerald Gehringer, Fred Gill, and brother-in-law, Ken Lee. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, AWANA Children’s Fund, 310 Ave. E, Kentwood, LA 70444. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements.
Donald J. Forsyth
(July 12, 1964 – April 6, 2010)
Donald J. Forsyth, Jr. was born on July 12, 1964 and passed away at 5:55 a.m., Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at his residence. Donald was 45, a native of Lutcher and a resident of Amite.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
An on-line Guestboook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com
McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.
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