The Prayer Link

Sunday

Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CEV)

Donald Ray Cutrer

Donald came through the surgery and is doing well. They did not remove his leg, they only did like a 4 inch incision from the top of the knee cap down and removed the necrosis and put in a drain tube with a packing which will be removed several times daily to soak as much infection as possible. The surgeon said that the infection had not gotten to the knee cap bone, but he does not know yet if the infection is amywhere else in the bone. More test scheduled for tomorrow. He is in a lot of pain at this time. I will keep you updated on his condition. Thanks so much for your prayers and please continue to pray for him. He has a long way to go. Thank you so much.
Yours in Christ,
Mary Ann Cutrer

CaringBridge – Callie Cole

Hey,
This is Frances with a little update on Ms. Callie and her progress. We have had a very busy week with rehab everyday, two trips to Jackson for appts., the golf tournament for Callie’s Mission, and her birthday celebration. Everything was a huge success!!
Therapy makes big strides in her strength training. Also, speech is working the vital stem for swallow. She continues to progress with the spelling and reading. She is so ready for a communicative device. We are trying the get her an eval with T.K. Martin in Starkville. Maybe we will know something soon from Dept. of Rehab.
The doctor in Jackson seemed to be impressed with her progress. The MRI showed improvement but you can see the healing without an xray. Just simply look into those eyes and see the spark!!
I can not tell you how much money was raised for Callie’s Mission through the golf tournament, but I can tell you that the hard work and contributions received will send many more hands and feet to spread the gospel. Just think. If Callie had not had the accident, she would only be using her hands and feet. I believe this is a glimpse of our Lord’s big picture and a part of His plan. I have thanked Him for this snapshot; I hope you will do the same.
Callie had a great day with cake and ice cream, fun and fellowship with a few of her friends. She will now say she is 16 but she looks at me with skepticism. Next week she will be 17 years old. How will she handle that? I’m not sure. Perhaps the files labeled 15 yrs. and 16 yrs. will be retrieved next. Who knows?! Until her memory returns, may the Lord hold her close and keep whispering.
Please continue to pray for strength and endurance for her as she strives toward a full recovery.
“Those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.” Isaiah 40:41
Keep it real.

Love,
Frances

SAFETY

WE ALL WANT to know that we have a safety net…

I don’t mind taking certain risks — I just want to know that, if I fall, there’s a net. When I was a young boy, I lied about my age and got a job as a contruction worker. I was a boilermaker. We built water tanks, housings for nuclear reactors, and other large steel structures. I was terribly afraid of heights, but I was willing to work several hundred feet in the air if there was at least a safety rope. Such is life. We will climb to the greatest heights if we know there is a net waiting below to catch us!

Walking in love is very threatening territory. It is like climbing an extremely high structure. Telling you how I really feel, expressing how your actions are really affecting me, owning my own weaknesses, giving you my heart fully — that is very risky business. The degree of honesty and vulnerability that is required for this kind of relationship is far beyond what most are willing to risk…unless they have a safety net.

This safety net is the degree of trust I have for you. I must know it is safe for me to give you this much of my life before I am willing to take the plunge. On the other hand, most of us expect our mates to blindly leap into our arms. They should know that we love them, and they should just trust us!

Trust, however, is never given; it is earned. The person who gives unearned trust will be hurt repeatedly. Of course, we must always be willing to trust. Agape-love should not look for reasons to withhold trust. But we should trust only to the level that someone has proven trustworthiness. Even God doesn’t ask us to trust beyond the level of love He has proven. Dr. James B. Richards, “The Safety Net,” We Still Kiss, 112-113

“As for God, His way is perfect;

the word of the LORD is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

Psalm 18:30

Posted by Mike Benson

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday Afternoon

KaLeigh Powers

Just a note to say that KaLeigh is doing better. She is up and about, but still really sore and she still has some pain. Just as soon as we find out the results on the pathology report I will post it. Please just keep praying for her.
In Christian Love,
Mary Ann Cutrer

Donald Ray Cutrer

I just received news that they will take Donald Ray to the OR at 5pm today and open and drain the place that is giving him the most problem. If the infection has not gotten to the bone they may be able to save his leg. Please everyone say a prayer for him. I will keep you updated on how the procedure goes. Thank you ever so much….
Love in Christ,
Mary Ann Cutrer

Macy Gueldner

YEAH!!!!! What a great morning! Macy got almost everything out…… the drainage tubes, pacemaker wires, etc……
The only thing she still has are 2 IVs (one foot and one arm), plus the leads on her chest, and the oxygen sat on her toe.
I held her for the first time in 6 days, and even fed her a bottle. She’s eating well, but definitely is taking it slow. She’s not eating near as much as before, but that’s to be expected.
I just spoke to the Cardiologist, and he’s completely comfortable with her heart rhythm. It’s something that happens in everyone, but they aren’t used to seeing it happen this soon after surgery. It’s called respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and completely NORMAL!!!!
While I was typing this journal, we got moved to the Ped floor. I can’t believe it!!! There’s a possibility of us coming home tomorrow or Monday. Wow, things are moving very quickly now.
Thanks to Mrs. Tanner for coming to visit and giving us a goodie bag….. my favorites….. chocolate and Coke 😉
Thank you all for your prayers…… Macy is my little miracle, thanks to all of you!
Cate’s already one her way with Nana and Papa….. I can’t wait to see Cate’s face when she gets to see Macy.

Saturday Addition

Mrs. Jane Duncan called to request prayer for her fifteen year old grandson, Devin Dugas. He is Dana’s son. Devin learned yesterday he has a serious vertebrae problem which will prevent him from participating in sports for the rest of his life. At this time, they do not know what the doctor will do for Devin. Jane asks us to pray for Devin and the entire family. Your prayers will be appreciated very much.

Saturday

Practice these things.

Devote your life to them

so that everyone can see your progress.

1 Timothy 4:15 (GW)

Gretchen Simpson

I went to see a Dr. Eric Oberlander, MD today, and since I have weakness in my right hand with the dics being like it is. This procedure will take 45 mins and will be done at The NeuroMedical Center in Baton Rouge. I would have to stay overnight, but be home the next day. The procedure will be done on July 8, 2010.

Please be in prayer for us.

Thank you,
Gretchen V. Simpson

Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell

“Miss” Annie Bell is slowly improving. Please continue to pray for Mr. Philip and “Miss” Anna Bell.

The VBS program last night was good. There were lots of parents there to be proud of their children. VBS 2010 was a hugh success! Lives were touched in great and meaningful ways. Thanks to all who helped.

CaringBridge

Have a great day as you prepare for the Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Friday Urgent Prayer Request

URGENT PRAYER
IMB
June 11, 2010

LAST FRONTIER. Believers among a Last Frontier people group are under intense pressure since a video of a baptism aired nightly on television last week. Some groups want to expel all foreigners and kill all local people who have chosen to follow Christ. Pray that evil plans will be thwarted and tensions will subside. Ask that believers will stand strong and faithful under the intense persecution.

We will do our best to keep you informed about this situation.

—
International Mission Board
3806 Monument Avenue
Richmond, VA 23230

Friday

“The righteous cry out,

and the Lord hears,

and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

~Psalm 34:17~

Gretchen send this yesterday.

Please be in prayer for me. I have been in some pain for about 4 weeks. Finally they took a mri of my back. They told me that I have a herniated disc. Tomorrow I will go see a surgeon that comes from Baton Rouge to Hammond once a week.

Thanks,
Gretchen V. Simpson

Mary Ann Cutrer shared two requests.

KaLeigh (Powers) had her surgery today and all went well. We will not know the lab report until next week. I am taking her back to her doctor tomorrow for him to change the dressing and take the drain tube out… Thanks for all the prayers.
Love in Christ,
Mary Ann Cutrer & The Powers family

I just received a message from my grandaughter that my son Donald Ray (Cutrer) from Denham Springs is in the hospital in Baton Rouge very ill. What seemed to him like he had a bad case of the gout has turned into something very serious. His leg is swollen and now has cellulitis and his sugar level is very high. If the swelling continues to go upward they will have to amputate his leg. Please pray for him. He is on some strong medications and we are hoping that will slow the infection and the swelling will stop. Please remember him in your prayers.
Thank you so much,
Mary Ann Cutrer

A day in the hospital yesterday revealed that Alisha Estay does not have appendicitis. She has a gall bladder problem and will be scheduled for surgery soon. Keep her in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for Micah Tolleson (22) as he battles HD and a brain tumor.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micah_tolleson/journal

Yesterday was another busy day for Macy Gueldner and her family.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner

THE ONLY BASIS FOR TRUTH

The native Americans asked their Chief in autumn if the winter was going to be cold or not.

Not really knowing an answer, the chief replied that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared.

Being a good and wise leader, he then went to the nearest phone booth and called the National Weather Service and asked, “Is this winter to be cold?”

The man on the phone responded, “This winter is going to be quite cold indeed.”

So the Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again, “Is it going to be a very cold winter?”

“Yes,” the man replied, “it’s going to be a very cold winter.” So the Chief went back to his people and ordered them to go and find every scrap of wood they could find.

Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again “Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?”

“Absolutely,” the man replies, “the native Americans are collecting wood like crazy!”

Sometimes the one whom we regard as a “source of authority” isn’t such an authority after all. That can have some serious consequences in life, but in the spiritual realm the consequences can be downright deadly. If I rely on the “expertise” of someone who doesn’t know, but who is relying on the “expertise” of someone else who doesn’t know, then my spiritual training has no real foundation in truth.

Jesus prayed to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17-18).

Therein lies the only basis for understanding that which is true. Where are you going for spiritual advice?

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a fantastic Friday!

Anna Lee

Death Notice

JoAnn Sharkey Carter
(August 7, 1941 – June 10, 2010)

JoAnn Sharkey Carter a devoted wife, mother and grandmother was born on August 7, 1941 and passed away at 4:15 a.m., on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. She was 68, a native of Sharkey Road, St. Helena Parish and a resident of Amite.

Mrs. JoAnn is survived by her husband, Thomas Carter, Amite; daughter Leisa Carter Corkern and husband, Darrell, Amite; grandson, Wesley Corkern and wife, Kara, Amite; special niece, Florence Hall and husband, Jessie, Amite; niece Gail Sharp and husband, Danny, Ponchatoula; special great niece, Beth Moissiant and husband, Jeff, Ponchatoula; great nieces and nephews, Kim Broussard and her child, Trey, Ponchatoula, Bridget Sharp, Ponchatoula and Christopher Sharp, Oak Ridge, TN.

She is preceded in death by parents, Joe and Hazel Newell Sharkey; brother, Dwight Sharkey; sister, Collean Sharkey Borer and brother-in-law, Hollis Borer.

Visitation at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite on Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00p.m. and on Monday, June 14, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

Religious Services at Kedron Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Jake Williams and Rev. Mike Foster officiating. Interment: Kedron Cemetery

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 (Exit 46) next to Bill Hood Automotive and behind Mr. Tom’s Car Wash and Holiday Inn Express.

Thursday

Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful

as God enters our lives

and we become like him.

~2 Corinthians 3:18b (Msg)~

(This verse seems so appropriate to the VBS lesson we had yesterday.)

From Chris Wales

Kirk Wales is departing for seven to eight month deployment to Afghanistan June 11. Please remember him in your prayers as well as the other men and women in the military serving and defending our country.

I am so proud of Kirk and his family. They know the importance of God, country, and family. Join me in praying for him and his family.

Mrs. Thomas Carter that many of your will remember from her long service at FGB in Kentwood is still putting up a battle with the cancer that has been working in her body for years. Please pray for her and for her family in the Kedron area west of Amite.

Read the latest updates on Macy Gueldner and pray for her, her family, and the medical staff caring for her.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner

Pray for all the children who will be attending day four of VBS today. Thank God for the many workers in the different Vacations Bible Schools who love God, love children, and know the importance of VBS in the lives of little children.

Pray for Ricky and Sherry Simpson and other family members as they leave today for Brandon’s wedding this weekend.

Pray for Alisha Estay, Landon’s wife, as she is admitted to the hospital in Houston due to appendicitis. Today is their 4th anniversary! Pray for Landon as he juggles work, home, two little ones, and a sick wife.

Today’s Prayer from the IMB

http://www.imb.org/main/pray/prayerrequests/todaysprayer.asp?cid=PrayENL

Pray for the Donnie Simpson family as they lay another family member to rest.

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

I am sure that God who began the good work within you

will keep right on helping you grow in his grace

until his task within you is finally finished

on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

~Philippians 1:6 (LB)~

Mary Ann Cutrer asks you to pray for her teenage granddaughter.

Please add Kaleigh Powers to the prayer link. She has 3 masses in her throat and she will have surgery sometimes this Thursday. The doctor does not know what has caused the masses, but he said that they needed to come out. Please pray for her and her family. (Also her Meme who is very worried about her.)
Yours in Christ,
Mary Ann Cutrer

CaringBridge – http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner

Please read the journal so you will know how to pray for the current needs.

Pam Kliesch would appreciate prayers for her son, Whit, who has been sick while in the military. It’s not easy for a mother when a child is sick and so far away.

Please continue to pray for Jerry Glass as he learns more about what will be done for him. Surgery is not an option.

There will be a reception to honor Jerry and Bobbye Rankin during the Southern Baptist Convention in Florida next. They are retiring after 40 years of service. I wish I could be there, but know there are many others who will be there. May God bless their retirement and continue to use them in His service.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33091 week

WEDNESDAY WINDOW ON THE WORLD
IMB
June 9, 2010

* Praise the Lord for answering your prayers and enabling a Deccani Muslim-background believer and his team to record video segments that can be broadcast on local and national cable networks in India.

* Pray that someone will be willing to “walk through the fire” to do church planting in Jharia, a city in India with raging fires underground.

* Give thanks to God for the aid provided to Aymara people in Peru following torrential rains and flooding; pray for a medical clinic that will be held in the community this month.

* Those seeking to reach American peoples ask you to pray for the believers in one town to share the Gospel boldly and for the teachings of Santeria to be exposed and uprooted.

DECCANI MUSLIMS OF INDIA (deh-KAH-nee). One Deccani Muslim-background believer and a team of others have professionally recorded video segments that clearly articulate what it means to be a Christian versus being a Muslim. They address all sorts of concerns that Deccani Muslims traditionally bring up. The funding was provided locally, as was the video editing team! Please pray that local and national cable networks will accept these videos and broadcast them on their networks so that many may hear the Gospel and clearly understand what it is–and what it is not. God has blessed this Deccani Muslim-background believer and his team. Please pray that as the Gospel goes out, many will hear and respond in faith. Praise God for answering prayers and raising up more laborers with a passion for the Deccani Muslims! God will build His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her! http://www.go2southasia.org/

INDIA. A cross-cultural worker writes: “On my last trip to India, I discovered a city in crisis. Jharia is a city of 100,000 people in India’s Jharkhand state. Under the ground that Jharia sits on, fires are raging. Literally, coalmines are burning underneath the city. These burning mines give off heat that you can feel aboveground in certain areas. Noxious fumes drift from these mines into homes, and black soot covers large portions of Jharia. It was surreal. My eyes saw the filth, the smoke, and the horrible situation–but my mind could not fully grasp the reality of it.” There are few Christians in Jharia, and no churches or church-planting efforts. Area pastors say that Jharia has many strongholds and that it is very difficult to share the Gospel there. “To do church planting in Jharia, someone has to walk through the fire. At this point, Indian pastors are not willing to believe that the flames will not consume them. Jude 1:23a (NASB) says, ‘save others, snatching them out of the fire.’ Approximately 100,000 people need to be snatched from fire. Pray that a church will be planted in Jharia in 2010.”

AYMARA OF PERU (eye-MAH-rah). “The month of January brought torrential rains and flooding to the Altiplano (a high plateau in the Andes Mountains) of Peru,” writes a member of the Aymara Strategy Group. “Only 15 minutes away from our house, an entire community was covered in water and more than 500 families lost everything. Thank you for praying as we participated in disaster-relief efforts in this area! ‘Food for our animals’ was the most important need that was conveyed; therefore, we rented many fields for them in order to provide for them by caring for their animals. On June 10-12, we will be doing a medical clinic in this community with the help of a volunteer team. It is our hope that we can not only continue to meet their physical needs, but also their spiritual needs. Right now, there appears to be an open door into this community because of our previous relief efforts. Pray that God will use this upcoming clinic for them to learn about Him and to draw them into a saving relationship with Him.” http://www.gradysonmission.com/

AMERICAN PEOPLES. “In the inky darkness, staying on the narrow path that led from the main road to the house church was difficult, so at first I didn’t notice the massive tree looming in the shadows,” writes a member of the Caribbean Itinerant Team. “Later, during the lively worship service, when the foreign guest was introduced and the purpose of his visit announced, I realized the seriousness of the situation. This muscular, light-skinned man was a lumberjack who had been called from far away to cut down the huge tree. The house church was packed and needed to expand their space, which meant removing the gigantic ‘spirit tree’ used frequently in rituals of Santeria, a mixture of African traditional religions and the worship of saints practiced by more than half the population of this country. Because people believe anyone who cuts down the tree will die, the visitor had been summoned. Join us in prayer that believers in this town will have the courage to share the Gospel boldly and that God’s power will expose and uproot the teachings of Santeria. Pray that people will worship the Creator and not the creation.”

Thanks for praying. You make a difference in many lives!

Anna Lee

Tuesday

Don’t act thoughtlessly,

but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

~Ephesians 5:17 (NLT)~

I enjoyed my first day of VBS and am looking forward to day two. Get the children there by 8:30. Pray for lives to be changed because of the many Vacation Bible Schools in our area.

Yesterday was a very busy day for Macy Gueldner and her family. Be sure to read all the updates the family posted yesterday. Thank God for taking good care of Macy and her family.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/macygueldner/journal/2

Here’s another little girl for you to begin praying for. Avery Smith and Sami Smith are two little girls for whom I hope you will begin praying.

Jude Fowler continues to do well following his toe surgery last week. Continue to pray for a good healing time.

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JUNE 8, 2010

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” (Psalm 105:1)

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 Prime Minister Emil Boc of Romania (southeastern Europe, between Ukraine and Bulgaria).

EUROPEAN PEOPLES. Summer is a great time to visit Germany and Austria. The weather is typically warm, but not too hot. Outdoor markets, ice cream shops and cafes, as well as town festivals, draw large crowds and provide opportunities for engaging in conversations. Baptist representatives in these countries often plan evangelistic outreach projects during the summer months and invite volunteer teams to join them. Intercede that the hearts of Baptist representatives and volunteers alike will be in tune with the Holy Spirit and that they will be completely open to what He desires to accomplish through them. Pray that they will have many opportunities to share the Good News with Germans and Austrians and that many will place their faith in Him.

LIGHTHOUSE CITY, CHINA. Thank you for praying for people to turn from false idols to the only One who is worthy of worship. Praise the Lord that by His grace, a family of three recently came to faith and were baptized last month! lighthouse@foobox.com

Baptist Press Stories for Jun. 7, 2010

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