The Prayer Link

Tuesday

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread,

and in prayers . . .

and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

~Acts 2:42-47~

Mrs. Katherine Sanders is home again and improving. Keep her in your prayers.

Pete Lee is in ICU still and hopefully will be ready for surgery this week. Please keep Pete and his family in your prayers.

Dr. Landrum Salley

I have major surgery scheduled for Monday. I tend to have a low sodium level, and that could prevent me from taking a general anaesthetic and therefore delay the surgery. It’s to correct an abdominal hernia, which I acquired when all my abdominal muscles were cut when I had emergency surgery five years ago. We will appreciate your prayers. And thanks again for keeping us posted on what is happening in a town where we spent sixteen years and still love

Callie Cole

Good Evening,

Callie is doing well. She has not made any great strides over the past few days but is still responding well to family and friends. It is good to see how her friends have adjusted and can now talk to her and treat her just like they used to. Not sure but this is probably very difficult for them to do. It does my heart good to see them crack a joke or do something to try and get a response out of her, and most of the time it works. Frances works hard with her during the day along with the therapists to keep her mobile and to increase her range of motion as well as working on the swallowing, which is going very well.

There are a great group of guys working on our building project. It has not been the greatest weather for construction but it hasn’t slowed them one little bit. As a matter of fact they are putting this building up faster than I can get what I need to get done to stay ahead of them. The Lord has truely blessed our lives by using people in ways that we could never have imagined. I thank the Lord every day for all of you who continue to lift my daughter and our family up to the Most High. I know that we shouldn’t be, but we are amazed at the prayers offered up on our behalf, and all of the things that people have done and continue to do for us out of love. I ask that the Lord bless each one of your lives and to know how you have blessed ours.

Sunday, Bro. Floyd preached a message from Genesis chapter 39 on Joseph. We were reminded how Joseph remained faithful to the Lord and to himself. I decided to read chapter 37 and also chapter 40 just to jog my memory and the Holy Spirit showed me something else. Joseph was a righteous man. He did almost everything right and yet he was sold as a slave by his own brothers, he was thrown into prison and then forgotten by a man he had helped and left in prison for two more years for no crime at all. Through all of this Joseph remained faithful and the Lord was able to fulfill his purpose through this man because of it. You see, the Lord had a great purpose for the things that happened that no one knew about. Thank you Lord for showing us what we need to see at just the right time.

Please continue to pray without doubt as I know you are.

Tom

TODAY’S PRAYER
IMB
JANUARY 26, 2010
“Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 54:2)

HAITI. For updated information and prayer requests related to the Haiti earthquake, please visit http://www.imb.org/main/pray/ and Ed Cox’s blog, http://imbprayerdir.wordpress.com.

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 Kuupik Kleist of Greenland (northern North America, northeast of Canada).

CHINA. More than 98,500 Chinese students studied in U.S. universities last year. Pray that many of them will receive Christ this year while in the United States as churches, families and individuals open their hearts and homes to these bright young Chinese adults. Pray that Christians in the United States will see this as a great mission field, and will also comprehend the great influence the students may have someday when they return to their homeland.

DUTCH INDIGENOUS OF THE NETHERLANDS. Please pray for a small evangelical church in Holland. From this small church, a group of believers is prayerwalking the city and asking God to bring revival in the land. Recently they discovered a portion of the city with a concentrated amount of occult influence. They have decided to focus in this part of the city for awhile. They ask you to agree with them in prayer that strongholds will be broken and that the truth of the gospel will penetrate the hearts of those who live in this area specifically. Pray also that the occult organizations will be rendered powerless and not be able to influence the lives of those in this area.

Baptist Press News

http://www.bpnews.net/

Welton H. Brumfield, Jr.
(February 25, 1933 – January 25, 2010)

Welton H. Brumfield, Jr. a loving son, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was born on February 25, 1933 and passed away at 5:55 a.m., Monday, January 25, 2010 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Covington. He was 76, a native and resident of Amite.Mr. Welton is survived by his daughter, Becki Brumfield Biandolillo and husband Mike, Amite; a son, Greg Brumfield and wife Nicole, Amite; mother, Mrs. Josephine H. “MerPhinie” Brumfield, Amite; son-in-law, Danny Richardson, Amite; companion, Connie R. Evans, Amite and her granddaughter, Lindsey; 11 grandchildren, Gretchen Ockman and husband, Mike, Jared Richardson, Lindsey Jo Brumfield, Blair Reid, Chelsea Brumfield, Grant Welton Richardson, Gray Richardson and wife Donna, Ashley Brumfield, Blake Welton Brumfield, Sydni Biandolillo and Alexis Biandolillo; 4 great-grandchildren, Keegan Ockman, Kelsey Ockman, Kelton Baugh and Grayson Richardson

Preceded in death by his father, Welton H. Brumfield, Sr.; his wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Eubanks Brumfield; daughter, Laurel “Lauri” Brumfield Richardson; brother, Claude “Hank” Brumfield; sister-in-law, Eleanor “Cricket” Vessier Brumfield; and sister, Sara Frances Brumfield.

Pallbearers are Grant Richardson, Gray Richardson, Jared Richardson, Blake Brumfield, Claude Brumfield & Bryan Brumfield. Honorary Pallbearers are Johnny Peterson, Larry Mobley, Buck Cefalu, John Bush & Ray Fontaine.

Visitation will be at First United Methodist Church, Amite, on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Brady Whitton officiating. Interment in the Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite, LA.

Mr. Welton graduated from Amite High School in 1951 and received his Business Management degree from LSU in 1955. He served as a pilot for SAC in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1958 and returned to Amite. He first owned Brumfield Tractor Co. from 1953 to 1988 and also manager of Brumfield Sales & Service in Kentwood from 1971 to 1978. He became general manager of Brumfield Motor Co. in Amite in 1971 and subsequently dealer in 1975 after the death of his father. He sold this dealership in 1998. During this period he served on the National Dealer Council at Ford Tractor Division and also served as one of five dealers in the country for a two year term on the National Dealer Council for Ford Motor Company. He also served on the board of Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association and was the President of LADA from 1977-78. He has been active in the First United Methodist Church for many years. He has served as Chairman of the Board of his local church, as the First lay President of the Council of Finance & Administration of the Louisiana Annual Conference and its First Lay Chairman for the Board of Pensions of that conference. He also served on the General Council of Ministries for eight years at the national level. He was a delegate to two sessions of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church and four sessions of the Jurisdictional Conference. He has also served as director on the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, LA since 1976. He was elected to board of Central Progressive Bank in 1977 and has also served and is presently serving as a Director for Blossman Bamcshares and recently elected Chairman of the Board.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

TO BE “SAVED” means to be made safe…

It implies that the unsaved person is in danger. Mark 16:16 speaks of salvation and safety from sin. When the term saved is used in reference to a Christian, it means he is made safe from the guilt and eternal consequences of his sins (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:2; Ephesians 2:15; Titus 3:5). This safety is brought about by God’s pardon, which can be affected in no other way. It means the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). This salvation is equivalent to the promise of pardon for those who believe and are baptized. Many religious people balk at the idea of placing baptism in such a connection with salvation (that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins). However, we must remember that it was Jesus Himself Who placed baptism in this connection. When a mind revolts at any of His words, it is not His fault but their fault. The stubborn heart bears sole responsibility for one’s failure to heed God’s Word. When considering the concept of being saved, one must take into account the power of God to deliver an individual from the bondage of sin by the power of the Gospel. H.D. Simmons

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved;

but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Mark 16:16

Have a blessed day!’

Anna Lee

Monday

But as for me, I will sing about your power.

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

~Psalm 59:16 (NLT)~

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

ALLEGIANCE IS LOYALTY to or support for a particular person, cause, or group…

Many times in history’s past, leaders have given their allegiance to those whom they thought would provide them the greatest protection, if they were to be attacked by an enemy. Yet, invaribly there would be those poor choices made by a kind or leader in choosing an ally.

Ally is to join or enlist somebody, in an association with one or more other states, organizations, or individuals for mutal help and support or the achievement of a common purpose.

On one such occasion a king many years ago had the opportunity to choose whom he would pick as an ally. He could not wish to have every nation around him as an ally because even they were at odds with each other. He had to pick the strongest and hope that this new ally would not turn on him in the process. You see, his kingdom was the smallest of them all. So, he looked to the hills around his kingdom and tried to make a decision.

He had the choice between choosing one or two of the nations that touched his border or he could choose God.

Here is what he said, “I life up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm — He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121

What a wonderful example of a deep trust in God by this king of Israel! Is this how we make choices in our lives as Christians? Do we pick the people of importance around us to create our success in life? Do we choose the strong financially, professionally, gifted, or the most in number for our security or do we really trust God with our welfare, and most importantly, our eternity?

Whom will you choose today, God or man?

As Christians, choosing God as our constant ally is the only option in this life. We should do this in all matters pertaining to our present life. The eternal consequences of not having Him on our side at all times is too paralyzing to imagine! Mike Price

“…If the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us

when their anger flared against us they would have swallowed us alive;

…Praise be to the LORD who has not let us be torn by their teeth…

Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

~Psalm 124:2,3,6,8~

Have a blessed week!

Anna Lee

Sunday Afternoon

Mrs. Kathine Sanders

Momma Cat is in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital with pneumonia. Please be in prayer for this lady and her family.

Chuck Pittman

Chuck is in room 3104 at North Oaks. Please be in prayer for Chuck and his family as he continues the battle with cancer.

Mark Hughes

Mark is continuing to be treated with medication for the problems that arose after surgery. He is doing better and may soon be able to be released from the hospital. He will continue to stay in the Atlanta area so he will be near his doctor.

Bro. Butch Reviere

Bro. Butch is now at his sister’s house where he hopes to get some rest for a while. Cards may be sent to him in c/o Cathy Purvis. 61156 Seal Road, Varnado, LA 70467.

Pete Lee

Pete continues to need surgery to stop an infection. Pray for the doctors to make the right decision about the next step in treating Pete.

Adrianna Cavanagh – I know your hearts break as you read the updates on Adrianna. The family has received lots of support, but it is still difficult to be in their situation. Please continue to pray for this family. This update was written by Adrianna’s mom midmorning today.

Another hard morning for us. Joe stayed up til 3:00 am and then I have been on duty since. Adrianna did not sleep well and threw up a few times. She has had some leg pain, but we think her pain meds are working better now.
She has not been moving her left leg or left arm, so she could have had a mini stroke yesterday during the seizures, or what seemed like seizures. That leg and arm are also swollen, but does not show signs of edema yet.
We are weary and tired, but love seeing our daughter. We don’t like seeing her in pain, though. We just want what is best for her and that is all we can hope and pray for.
I have been doing more praying now than I ever have in my life. God knows better than me, though, so I know I have to be patient.
Just praying for her peace and comfort.
She did ask me to go feed her stuffed cow this morning and then said, “Mommy, let’s watch Annie!” but then she’d fall right back to sleep. She also asks for sips of water and for her binky. Even asks for her Mommy….wh ich always makes my heart melt.
This baby is fighting so hard..I just wish I could take away her pain…..
The nurses have been coming to check on her every day and night. Her vitals are all pretty good, considering.
We think there may be some decrease in brain function, though. I am so scared that a tumor is pressing on her brain….Lord, please let us have as many conversations with her as we can get….Please grant her a miracle or let her go to live with you, in peace…We don’t want to watch her suffer anymore. It is so painful….
Believing,
Stephanie

Death Notice – More and more people that I have know all my life are passing away. Alma is in that group. Please pray for her family.

Alma Marion Moore
(October 31, 1931 – January 26, 2010)

A native of Amite and lifelong resident of Arcola, died on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Tangi Pines Nursing Center in Amite, LA at the age of 78 years. She is survived by her 2 sisters, Mary Pevey, Amite and Lydia Hawkins, Grenada, MS; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Cleo Joseph Moore, Sr.; mother, Cecelia Vessier Moore; sister, Lorena Wimberly; brother, Cleo Joseph Moore, Jr.; niece, Judy Moore Hammons; nephew, Ronald Pevey. The family would like to express a special thank you to the Staff of Tangi Pines Nursing Center for their dedicated care and assistance during this difficult time. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 12 Noon on Tuesday until religious services at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Services conducted by Rev. Mike Woodard. Interment Mulberry Street Cemetery, Amite.

Sunday

From now on,

if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today,

love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you,

he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time ….

~Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG)~

Eric Pritchard

Please keep Eric on the prayer list. it’s not looking promissing, But with Jesus,all things are possible. Keep praying for a miracle.

Lloyd and Alcyon Hayden

Wagstaffs

Here’s our latest on the medical front. We have a complication. Bob just had his x-rays and doctor’s visit, and unfortunately the doctor did not release us to make reservations to come home on Feb.6, as we had hoped. He wants Bob to have a CT Scan on Tuesday because he is having so much pain. If he doesn’t find the problem and Bob is still in pain he will have an MRI as soon as it can be scheduled.
   We are getting weary of being away, but Bob couldn’t do anything there anyway while he is having this much pain. Please do continue to pray. It seems that Bob’s backbone is healing nicely, but the doctor said there may be a bloodclot or hemorrhaging that is pressing on a nerve. Doctor Ha (Yes, that is really his name.) is not sure what is causing this pain, that’s why Bob will have more tests.
Our prayer request is for Bob to be pain free and to be released to come home. We would love for that to happen by Tuesday. Anyway, God has a reason for allowing our hardships. Pray that we will understand why this is happening. But, even if we don’t, we praise God that He is in charge.
     We love you guys,
                             Diane

Adrianna Cavanagh

Today was a rough day for Adrianna and for us. Yet God blessed us with another miracle and now she is sleeping peacefully on the couch.
Early this morning I could tell Adrianna was very confused. She kept saying she wanted to go to Mommy’s room, but we were already in there. Finally we brought her into the living room to the couch, because she wanted to be moved. She threw up a lot last night and all through the morning, but kept wanting to drink more water and milk.
Around 11:30 she began to start straining for breath, just as she did last Saturday night- a week ago. We all sat around her, talking to her, telling her she did not have to fight anymore and she could go be with God…and not to be scared.
She then had what seemed like 3 different seizures, so we kept giving her Ativan to calm her down. Thankfully, the hospice nurse was here to help. We also switched her pain meds because her leg, feet, and arm pain have been getting worse.
As she finally regained some strength and started breathing normally, we were all in awe again. Simply a miracle! We just kept shaking our heads in disbelief, thinking, “Wow! This kid is tough! She just doesn’t want to give up yet!”
After a while, I took a long bath and thought of Abraham in the Bible who was supposed to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Though Abraham couldn’t bear to do this to his son, he followed God’s orders until God said for him to stop, and saved Isaac from being sacrificed.
I kind of felt like we had done something similar today–tell ing God to take her so she wouldn’t suffer anymore, and God giving us a miracle.
Adrianna has woken up off and on, asking for water nonstop. She has kept down all of her medicine and fluids tonight and is finally sleeping, without pain.
God bless all the people who’ve been praying for all of us, for the people who’ve been holding a candlelight vigil outside our home every night, and for all the people who’ve been bringing us delicious food to eat all week.
We are truly blessed with amazing family, friends, and acquaintances.
We are tired, but happy that our baby girl is still here with us, fighting like the true fighter she is.
And we’re trusting in God, who is the ONLY one who can give us the real strength we need and the peace that passes ALL understanding.
Hoping to have more precious moments with our baby girl tomorrow, and that she will be pain-free tonight and tomorrow.
Taking it day by day, hour by hour….
Keeping the faith and believing in miracles,
Stephanie, Joe, & Adrianna

Roy Russell has been moved to North Oaks Rehab. He is getting some help he needs to recover f rom his stroke. Please keep him in your prayers.

My cousin, Sharla, is doing much better at rehab. She still has some issues the medical staff is working on, but is definately better. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Daddy had his first cataract surgery and is doing well. Please continue to pray for him as he progresses and for us as Momma and Daddy have four appointments with doctors this week.

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

THERE IS A certain convict that I have been corresponding with for several years down in Texas that recently got a “new” typewriter…

He had completely worn out the old one.

It was not very easy to correct his errors on the old machine and the letters he would type were full of typos most of the time. I was taken back by the cost of the new one…$110…quite a price to pay for anything in prison, and it was very elevating to my own soul to hear how joyful he was at being able to buy it.

I wrote him a letter and told him that every once in a while all of us need a little new in our lives.

Makes me wonder…

Why don’t we sweep out the old grudges from our lives, rip the pages of regret out of our life book, focus on how much good God has done for us, plant a seed of hopefulness in our neighbors, write a special memory on the wall paper of someone’s heart? Replace the fears of tomorrow with the good we can do today. Make a difference where we stand. Do the little things that matter. Hope more, love more, find new ways to serve, get out of ourselves and into the lives of others.

What stirs you? What is your passion? What makes you get up early, go to bed late, work harder, stay longer, risk more, cry less, laugh more? What if there was no way for you to lose? No way to be disappointed, no “on the other hand,” nothing but good consequences at the end of the day?

What if you could “buy” a dream, make a wish come true, be the person you’ve always known you could be? How hard would it be to put some “new” in your life by changing just one simple thing – your attitude?

What if we looked forward to helping others instead of considering it a chore, that’s right a chore, don’t think I’m the only one that ever had the thought, “I could be doing something I want to do instead of helping so and so.” I’m not. Neither are you.

What kind of “new” could you and I put in our lives that would give us the joy that this convict feels with a new typewriter? Could it be as simple as looking each day for someone to serve in some way even if it is small? Yep that would do it for me. I could get up for some “new” in my own life, a change in my attitude, an opportunity to serve others and the good part is those “others” are all around me.

I think perhaps we are so conflicted about what we should be doing and dont do that it makes us all start searching for something different or new to put joy in our lives whwen all along the “new” is simply to write on our own internal typewriters a “new name” to serach each day. I must do better. Ken Upchurch (Ken is a shepherd with the Kensington Woods church of Christ in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.)

“Therefore, as we have opportunity,

let us do good to all,

especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:10

I’ll post some other updates this afternoon.

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee

Saturday

A man’s heart reflects the man.

~ Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)~

Today’s devotional thought is dedicated to Dr. Joe Baugh. If you have heard him preach, you’ll know why.

DON’T FORGET THE “PUNCH LINE”

The story is told of a preacher who attended a seminar with many well known motivational speakers. One of these speakers boldly approached the pulpit and, gathering the entire crowd’s attention, said, “The best years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” The crowd was shocked!

He followed up by saying, “And that woman was my mother!” The crowd burst into laughter and he gave his speech which went over well.

Several weeks later, this minister who had attended the seminar decided to use that joke to introduce his sermon. As he shyly approached the pulpit one Sunday morning, he tried to rehearse the joke in his head, but it seemed a bit foggy to him. Getting to the microphone he said loudly, “The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman that wasn’t my wife!” His congregation sat shocked!

After standing there for almost 10 seconds trying to recall the second half of the joke, the preacher finally blurted out “…and for the life of me, I can’t remember who she was!”

Remembering the “punch line” is important in sharing a joke. It’s also important in relating the gospel message. We tell the story of Jesus coming to this earth and becoming a man. We tell the story of Jesus being crucified for our sins. We tell the story of Jesus being buried in a borrowed tomb. But, if that’s all we remember, then we truly have no reason to rejoice. There’s more to the story!

As Paul begins his letter to the Romans, he focuses on the “gospel of God”, but he makes it very clear from the outset that the gospel is not just that Jesus “was born of the seed of David according to the flesh”, but also that he was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:3-4)

The gospel, the “good news,” is not only that Jesus died to offer us salvation from sin, but that he rose to give us hope of eternal life. Don’t forget the “punch line”!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

May you know the real punch line of God’s salvation plan for each of us. If now, ask someone what the bottom line of salvation is.

Anna Lee

Friday Evening

I forgot to include a special request for prayer for Dara Hughes as she cares for Mark. Caregivers often get overlooked, but they have an important and very stressful responsibility.

Pete Lee is hospitalized at our lady of the lake. Doctors are doing tests to determine if surgery is an option to treat an infection. Please pray for Pete and his family as well as the medical staff caring for him.

Friday Afternoon

Adrianna Cavanagh

Steph will resume her journaling when she can, but she, Adrianna and Joe are now getting some much-needed sleep. Thus, this entry comes from the grandparents.

Prayer can’t always change the situation, but we believe prayer can always change US. If our prayers for Adrianna’s miracle cure are denied, we can still consider our prayers answered in another way: Adrianna may soon leave this world of pain and suffering to enter the Kingdom of God and enjoy the blessings of Paradise. SHE will be much better off there, though she will be painfully missed by all of us who know her best.

The doctors have looked at her blood tests and find evidence that her kidneys and liver are beginning to decline in efficiency.

Though in some pain she continues to bless us by her great spirit and personality, which help to renew her mom and dad’s courage as they lovingly care for this child. We delight in her own special phrases like “in a little while”, “be careful”, “ebby day”, and calling our names, Poppa, Pop-pop, Mimi or Nanna. She still talks, though not as much as when she was not sick.

Stephanie took Adrianna into her own room last night to let her see her dolls and animals (the little friends you have given her over the past 10 months). She asked for several to hold and love, and we realized again how much these little ones have helped her on this long, agonizing journey.

Afterwards, we watched her as she lay between her parents and clasped her hands together to say her prayers, “Now I lay me down to sleep…I pray the Lord my soul to take.” I was thankful they videotaped that prayer. How real and meaningful it was for her at this time.

Our prayer now is that we can accept God’s will, if He does not heal her. We are hoping that her life will continue to influence the lives of others.

We do not find the words to express our gratitude for the unexpected love, thoughts and prayers of all of you who have loved Adrianna so generously and unconditionally. You have certainly made this Journey easier for us.
Judy and Reggie
Irene and Brian

Mark Hughes

Mark is doing better. His problem is being treated with medication. He may be about to leave the hospital in a few days.

Butch Reviere

Butch is looking forward to going to his sister’s home for some quiet time to continue his recovery from surgery.

Friday

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the end of the earth.”

~Acts 1:8~

Thank you for praying for Daddy yesterday. His eye surgery went very well. Pray for him as he goes through the healing process.

HAITI. For updated information and prayer requests related to the Haiti earthquake, please visit http://www.imb.org/main/pray/ and Ed Cox’s blog, http://imbprayerdir.wordpress.com.

As many of us complete our work weeks, let’s pray for those in Haiti who have had such turmoil in their lives for the past week and a help. Pray this sad, sad time will also be a time when they realize people who don’t know them are there to assist them. May a sense of love penetrate to their hearts and minds. Pray this tragedy will be like an open window introducing them to the love of God and His plan to save them for eternity!

Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti as the news stories become less frequent. Know their physical needs will be great for a long time. Pray their spiritual needs will be fulfilled!’

Baptist Press

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1265325f1aeb409c

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

I KNEW A woman one time whose husband had left his wife and children to marry her years ago…

After learning that such is adultery (Matthew 19:9), she said in all seriousness, “I don’t know what to do. I guess we’ll go to torment.” She was in what I call the Devil’s box. That is, she had succumbed to his temptation, fallen into sin, and now was so tied to it that she simply saw no way out.

David was in the devil’s box after he committed sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). When she announced to him that she was carrying his child, David heard the top slam shut. He was locked in the box. He had to think of his sin day and night, and found himself desperately crafting a way to get out without exposing his sin.

Satan enjoys putting people in the box of sin because when we are there, we can’t see our way out except to live in fear of being discovered and paying the consequences of our actions. (Glenn Colley)

“Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may devour.”

~1 Peter 5:8~

May God touch your heart and help you to do something for someone today. May this be a day to forget self and do for others.

Anna Lee

Thursday Addition – Haiti

IMB Video: http://www.imb.org/main//downloads/embedvideos.asp?flashvars=mvid=10472&mvidext=flv&cid=vid

Reposted from Rev. Jason Dukes’ post:

you may not want to read this…
Posted: 20 Jan 2010 04:02 PM PST

You may not want to read this unless you want to be made aware. Because being made aware means you have to make a choice. You have to decide if you will sit idly by or if you will do something. Anything at all.
USA Today interviewed Mark Driscoll, a pastor from Seattle, who witnessed post-earthquake Haiti firsthand this week. Again, you may not want to read this. But if you do, click on the link to the PDF below. Then, come back for some updates from our connections in Haiti.

youth in lawless Haiti at risk for sex trade, slavery, murder

If you weren’t aware of the reality of sex trafficking before you read that, you are now. It is a reality in our world. You can watch this YouTube video about an organization trying to do something about it that our pastoral team connected with:

BOTTOM LINE: it is a terrible reality of our world. And it potentially will become a greater and greater threat to Haitian girls in the aftermath of the earthquake in the coming months.
Another reality in a country like Haiti is that communities of faith have drastic influence on the health and safety of the people. So, let’s pray together for God to grant us wisdom as to what our long-term strategy needs to be to serve Haiti. Haiti is news-worthy as a ratings-booster right now, but last night’s election showed that other stories will trump the devastation there (maybe rightfully so, not sure), but the effort to rebuild Haiti will be a necessity for years to come.

Here’s an update from two connections we have there:

Haiti Update, January 20, 2010 – From Dr. John Sullivan
Subject: Feeding Begins and Response Plan Takes Shape

The Florida Baptist Convention’s four-member assessment team was awakened this morning by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake tremor that struck 35 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although the four team members and a medical team from the Arkansas Baptist Convention scrambled to get outside, there was no further damage to the Convention’s mission building and no one was injured.
The Arkansas medical team – comprised of doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians – accompanied the Florida assessment team to various locations yesterday and today to provide medical assistance working out of Baptist churches.

On Wednesday, a Florida Baptist and International Mission Board team began distributing food near the El Shadai orphanage in Bon Repos, located north of the Port-au-Prince airport. The private orphanage is managed by Marie Prinvil, a former Florida Baptist Convention employee.

Dennis Wilbanks, an associate in the Convention’s Partnership Missions Department, who arrived in Haiti on Sunday evening, was able to purchase limited supplies of food from distributors in Haiti. Wilbanks, who has led several disaster relief efforts in Haiti, called upon his network of contacts in Haiti to secure the foodstuffs.
As the U.S. government readies to airlift thousands of orphans and refugees from Haiti to Miami, Florida Baptist staff members are working to assist in receiving, processing and re-settling these refugees.

On Wednesday, the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes began making preparations to receive, house and care for 100 Haiti orphans. The Convention’s Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center campus near Leesburg is expected to provide the housing facilities. The Alabama Baptist Convention has agreed to partner with the Florida Baptist Convention to meet the needs of the children and families when they arrive in Miami.

This weekend, the Convention’s assessment team members are expected to leave Haiti to meet in Hialeah to meet with representatives from the Florida Baptist Convention, International Mission Board and North America Mission Board. The four will provide first-hand assessment reports and help the mission leaders to develop a comprehensive response plan of how Southern Baptists can address the many needs in Haiti as soon as possible and as long as needed. While the team is away from Haiti, the Convention’s indigenous Haitian missionaries and pastors will continue to coordinate the distribution of food.

More details on the response activities will be available on the Convention’s website www.flbaptist.org and on the Florida Baptist Witness website www.gofbw.com.
Also to be available this week on www.flbaptist.org are two brief (2 minutes or less) downloadable videos to encourage Florida Baptists to pray and to give to the Haiti relief effort.
__________________________________

From the Clark family

JAN 20TH_We had another big shake this morning…we are OK and the house is standing. We lost internet until just now. We have had a full morning getting a medical team of 10 set up to work. They are now treating some wounded. They will be with us for several days.

JAN 19TH_I want to thank each of you for your prayers, gifts and notes of encouragement. They mean a great deal to us. Today Roger went to visit Pastor Jeanty. He and his wife are OK. Their house is partially fallen down and the church is completely destroyed. There were people at the church starting to clear away the rubble because they want to start having open air services in the church lot by Sunday. They had door to door (or tent to tent) ministry last Sunday and had 280 new converts. So, they are anxious to have a place to meet, even if it is out in the open. We praise God for this couple and the evangelistic calling God has on their lives. Also, today, we did the ‘routine’ of charging telephones, filtering water for the neighbors and just talking with folks that come by to see how we are. Everyone is still very shaken, in need of a place to share their story and find a sympathetic shoulder. And so we try to be the ears of Jesus as well as the hands and feet. Tomorrow we a medical team of 10 arriving. We will house them and deliver them to several locations to work. They will be here about a week. Pray for strength as we serve the needs of those who are serving. We will close this update tonight with another thank you to each of you. Know that we feel your prayers and love as do the people of Haiti.

JAN 18TH_Several have been asking just how to designate their gifts that they are sending to us through Elim Fellowship. At the moment there are 2 accounts set up for Haiti. 1. called “Haiti Relief” is a general account that will be disbursed by the directors at Elim. Some of this may come to us and some may go to other aid organizations that Elim partners with. Giving to this account is fine, but we will not hear about your specific gift and will be unable to personally thank you. 2. OUR ACCOUNT – is called, “Roger Clark – Haiti Relief”. Funds designated this way will be placed in our project account for us to disburse as we see the needs here in Haiti. We will be given a listing of all gifts to this account. So, just keep this in mind when you are sending your gifts and designate them accordingly.

SUPPORT ROGER & MARGARET: http://www.elimfellowship.org for Haiti relief info to Clarks for Haiti. And Roger’s blog is http://www.newlifehaiti.blogspot.com/

Thursday

Your hands shaped me and made me.

~Job 10:8 (NIV)~

Rev. Butch Reviere

David and I visited Bro. Butch yesterday evening. He is progressing with his recovery, but doesn’t yet have a date to leave the hospital. The biopsy results will be back in a couple days. Keep praying.

Kathy Wales

David and I visited Kathy Sunday afternoon. She was in good spirits and minding the doctors so she will be able to get around better as soon as possible. Chris is taking good care of her.

Kathy went to the Doctor today, Wednesday January 20, and had her cast removed after 5 weeks. The doctor agreed to put her in a “boot” but insisted on continuing another 3 weeks total non-weight bearing. X-rays looked great. We will return to the doctor in 3 weeks to hopefully start partial weight bearing. We appreciate your prayers, cards and phone calls.
Thanks,
Chris

Adrianna Cavanagh’s CaringBridge page has been updated. Please continue to pray for this family.

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

Stephanie,Joe and Adrianna, you continously are in my prayers. Adrianna is such a beautiful baby she has eyes like granny (LOL). Keep praying as God answers all prayer. Love you very much.

Phyllis McCraney

Mrs. Faye Price

Hi, Just wanted to let you know Faye has been moved to Kentwood rehab! We are all very excited, pray she will do well here!
Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers,continue to pray for a full recovery.
Laura

Grant Smith

Pray for my daddy as he has cataract surgery today in Hammond.

Jeanette L. Viola
(August 1, 1936 – January 19, 2010)

A resident of Amite, LA, died Tuesday, January 19, 2010. She retired from Shelby County Government and Macy’s Dept. Store, both in Memphis, TN. She is survived by her two daughters, Debbie Pingno and her husband, Emile, Amite, Theresa Simmons and her husband, Ted, Loranger, LA; a son, Ricky Viola, Amite; Five grandchildren, Charles Engeron, Loranger, Stacy Morris and her husband, Josh, Loranger, Jason Pingno and his wife, Heidi, Amite, Andy Perez and Joseph Perez, Amite; Six great-grandchildren: Nicholas and Abigail Engeron, Ashton and Colton Morris, Jason and Hunter Pingno. Also survived by four brothers: Richard Lee and his wife, Anna, Memphis, TN, Charles Lee and his wife, Helen, Senatobia, MS, Jerry Lee and his wife, Millie, Greer’s Ferry, AR, and Joe Lee, Memphis, TN; Three sisters, Elizabeth Morgan and her husband, Milton, Mountainburg, AR, Geneva Porter, Memphis, TN, and Zelpha Arnold and her husband, Craig, Fountain Inn, SC. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including a niece in particular, Elizabeth Lee Ann Porter, Bethesda, MD, who has been here for the family every step of the way. In addition to a multitude of friends, she leaves behind four very close and dear friends, Charles and Rozell Reeves, Mountain View, AR, Cathy Martin, Memphis, TN, and Viral Patel, Amite.

The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the following medical personnel and facilities for their kind, professional and compassionate care given to our loved one in her time of need: Dr. Joe Sharma and Dr. Juan Sarmiento and the staff of Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA; Dr. Rhea Jones and his staff; Dr. David Oubre, Wendy M. Gill, MSN ANP-C and staff at Pontchartrain Hematology Oncology, Inc.; Dr. Robert Fields and staff of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center; Dr. Gregory Linarello and staff; Dr. Alan Manning and staff, and the entire staff of North Oaks Hospital. Also a special thank you for the excellent care provide by Generation Hospice.

Visitation will be at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Services conducted by Deacon Roger Navarra. Interment will follow in Tangipahoa Cemetery, Tangipahoa, LA.

The Memorial Video will be available for viewing on Friday.

Baptist Press contains articles about Haiti, the Mass. election, and other current topics of interest.

https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1264df845dae78a9

KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” Philippians 2:10
Mike Benson, Editor

SOME HANDS ARE used to play piano, some to mold clay, others to sign for those who cannot hear…

Some hands are used to cook for others.

Look at your hands. What do you see? I see veins popping up, brown spots, wrinkles and unpolished nails. I see only the blemishes, but God sees them as instruments for serving others. If I choose, they can be used like the woman who “extends her hand to the needy” (Proverbs 31:20).

Paul tells us to “work with our hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Solomon states that “lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4). Isaiah begs for strength for his feeble hands (Isaiah 35:3). David also admonishes us to have “clean hands and pure heart” (Psalm 24:4). Gaynelle Thomas

Let him who stole steal no longer,

but rather let him labor,

working with his hands what is good,

that he may have something to give him who has need.”

~Ephesians 4:28~

Remember to pray for these and for other needs today. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Your hands shaped me and made me.

~Job 10:8 (NIV)~

Anna Lee