Saturday

“What man of you,

having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,

does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness,

and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

~Luke 15:4, NKJV~


The VBS program was wonderful last night.  The children were able to show their families the songs and Scriptures learned during the week.  The average attendance was 205.  Isn;t that wonderful?

The Sander’s baby did well with surgery.  Thank you for praying.

Mike Lambert is having some heart issues and is facing surgery.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers,

Don Denton

It has been one week since we have come back from St. Louis.  Don is doing better this time coming home than from the last time.  He just over the past couple days has shown some more improvement and that is such a good thing for all of us to see.

He continues to work hard at building his strength and endurance as well.

I on the other hand have a sinus infection.  I went to the doctor today and I also will have an ultrasound on Monday of the abdomen/uterus.  The doctor say it is enlarged.

Other than that we are doing pretty good.

Joshua is busy these days playing with friends.  Joshua and I really hope to be in church on Sunday.

It is late.  I will update soon.

Diane


KOMpray

Kids on Mission Pray

http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=6686&LanguageID=1709

Stir

stir.jpgI CARRY SOME coffee stir sticks around in my backpack because I want to remember that I need to be a stir stick…

I want to get into the lives of people and stir them up and help them reach their potential and become all God wants them to be.

Even though I’m over fifty, I believe the best years of my life are ahead of me. I’m not going to stand still and watch life go by.

What gets you up in the morning? What stirs your coffee? Do you have the initiative to attempt great things for God? You can create fire by striking a match, and, in the right environment, you could burn off the dried leaves and undergrowth for a whole forrest, removing the main tinder that lets forrest fires get out of hand and become terribly destructive. You small light could ignite a salutary flame that spreads across the country. But Satan does not want us to ignite the country–he wants to keep our little lights stuck in a container.

God wants us to initiate something, to become a stir stick. We don’t want to reach the ends of our lives and say, “What did I really do for the Kingdom? What did I do for my family? What did I do for my work? What did I do that echoes in eternity?” (Dan Erickson)

“And let us consider one another

in order to stir up love and good works.”

Hebrews 10:24

I hope the list of things you have done is long so you won’t have to even wonder for a second what you have done for God’s kingdom.  We want it to grow!

Anna Lee

Friday Afternoon

Delanie Dean’s ear procedure went well yesterday.  She was back at VBS this morning.

Beth Brabham called to say her sister was a little better.  Please continue to pray for Sandra Lee.

Nathan Daniels told me his little brother was having surgery this morning and he “isn’t even a year old”.    Pray for a quick recovery and for some rest for Steve and Elisabeth Sanders during this time.

Friday Morning Addition

Beth Brabham just called to ask for prayer for her sister, Sandra Lee, and her family.  Sandra had an outpatient surgery related to an arm problem yesterday and apparently has suffered a stroke.  She is hospitalized in Baton Rouge and will be given physical therapy today to determine its effectiveness in helping.  More surgery is possible.  Beth asked that you pray.

Friday

“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~


Please continue to pray for the Bankston and Currier families as they help take care of Tiffany and her family. Tiffany and Brad live in Cedartown, GA now.

Pray for Delanie Dean as she continues her recovery from a procedure on her ear.

From Becky Lindsey, Scott’s mother:
Scott (Lindsey) will be having surgery on Tuesday, June 16th to have his bone flap (the portion of the skull they removed) replaced. Please keep him in your prayers. He is excited to get his skull replaced. We are anxious for him (but not looking forward to going back to the hospital.) He has made such progress and it is hard to see him go back into that setting.

Scott has been discharged from phycial therapy after meeting all of his goals. He is truly a miracle. He is planning on returning to EMT school in August. Thank you for you prayers, calls, visits and cards. We have come a long way since February due to you all lifting us up in your prayers. We still have a little way to go. Please keep us in your prayers.

http://www.romenewswire.com/index.php/2009/06/11/jordan-arrives/

Jason shared this newspaper site with me.  It tells about a young soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on his son’s first birthday and the return of the body to Rome yesterday.  Jeffrey Jordan was a real American hero.  Please be in pray for his family and for all the other families going through the same thing.

A SENSE OF DUTY

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to school!”

“But why, Mom? I don’t want to go.”

“Give me two reasons why you don’t want to go.”

“Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!”

“Oh, that’s no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready.”

“Give me two reasons why I should go to school.”

“Well, for one, you’re 52 years old. And for another, you’re the principal!”

Sometimes we have to do things even when we don’t feel like doing them! It’s called having a sense of duty. I think perhaps the concept of duty has taken some abuse in the church. We sometimes talk about the importance of doing things for God because we want to, not because we have to. And I would wholeheartedly agree with that. But if we only serve God when we really “feel” like it, our service would be minimal indeed. Sometimes the feelings aren’t there, and we need to continue to serve knowing that it is the “right” thing to do.

It shouldn’t bother us to think that way because we do many other things in life for the same reason. For example, I am a father of three children. When each of of those babies entered my home, I loved them. And I provided for their needs because I loved them. But, I can honestly say that there were many times I got up in the middle of night to meet their needs when I didn’t “feel” like it. There were times when I got out of bed exhausted and irritable, and the only reason I got up was because I had a responsibility as a father to meet their needs. The love is always there, but sometimes it is a sense of duty that drives you to do what needs to be done.

The same thing is true in our Christian walk. When you get “exhausted and irritable” in your service to Christ, when you don’t “feel” like doing what you know needs to be done, may a sense of responsibility, a sense of duty, drive you to continue to remain faithful.

“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” (Luke 17:7-10)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Pray the last day of VBS and the program tonight will touch children and their families for the Lord.
Anna Lee

Thursday Evening Addition

Ann Trappey shared this information about Tiffany B. Currier.

Pam Bankston called me this afternoon. They are in Georgia with Tiffany and her family. Pam requested prayers from all of her friends and from any churches in the area.

Tiffany has thorax outlet syndrome. I am sure that I did not spell it correctly.

Tiffany’s rib was crushing a vein. She had surgery to remove the rib. Complications have occurred and Tiffany had a 4 inch blood clot in the vein. She has had 7 surgeries in three weeks and has been in the hospital for 17 days. Last weekend her chest filled up with blood. The doctors removed 2 litters of blood from her chest. One of her lungs collapsed. She is on Coumadin for the next 6 months and is very anemic.

Tiffany and Brad have two young children ages 2 and 4. Brad is from Amite.

Please put Tiffany on your prayer list and ask your church family to pray for her and her family as they experience this trial.

Ann

Ann also sent word that Riley Thomas Simmons was born today in Mississippi. He is the son is Stan and Bethany Simmons of Line Creek.

Thursday Evening

VBS count today – 203 (I think.)

Two family friends, Ronnie Nielson (MS) and Dianne Edgeman (TX), will be going on separate mission trips to Romania tomorrow. Dianne has been there several times before, but this is Bro. Ronnie’s first trip. Pray for both teams to have very meaninful and fruitful trips.

Mike Baer, a friend of Frances Gay, passed away surrounded by his family. Arrangements are incomplete, but the services will probably be in Bogalusa.

Glenn Edward Viana
(October 7, 1942 – June 8, 2009)
Glenn Edward Viana was born October 7, 1942, and passed away on Monday, June 8, 2009, at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond. He was 66, a native of New Orleans and a resident of Amite. Glenn is survived by two sons, John Viana of Port Orange, FL and Jean Michael Viana of Ponchatoula; one grandson, Wylee Viana of Australia; one sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Kenneth Courtney of Amite; four nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Meredith Viana. A memorial service will be held at a later date. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

Thursday

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:
Take your everyday, ordinary life—
your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—
and place it before God as an offering.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.” ~Romans 12:1 MSG~

Leave

aaam.jpgWHAT SHOULD WE leave behind when we die…?

A faithful family.

We will leave a mourning family behind on that sad day, but will we leave a faithful one? Will each be on his or her way to heaven? We are not able to make decisions for them, but we will have a great influence on each, especially our children ( Proverbs 22:6).

Sarah left a godly man to mourn ( Genesis 23:2). Abraham left faithful sons behind ( Genesis 18:19; 25:8). Zebedee and Salome gave the world James and John. Lois taught Eunice, who molded Timothy ( 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

If we would leave such a family, we must start NOW, because the years may come when they will not listen ( Ecclesiastes 12:2). No greater legacy can be left than faith in God and faithfulness to His church. (Allen Webster)

“You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:14a

Posted by Mike Benson at April 30, 2009 12:22 PM

Have a blessed day!

Anna Lee

Wednesday – Midafternoon

VBS attendance today – 213!


The Hatchels do not have a phone or internet yet, but Jennie was able to send an email saying the unpacking is going well.  Today was unpacking day number two!  I’m sure there will be more unpacking, organizing, and decorating days.  Pray for the family as they make the adjustments to living in a new home.


Jimmy and Retia Dukes and Family

< God, trouble, and you. >
The video of Dad teaching is uploaded. Thanks, Jenna. She filmed that morning two Sundays ago when Dad taught for the first time since the accident, and she got the video uploaded to my YouTube channel. She had to break it down into five pieces since it was 44 minutes long. You can see all five segments on my blog (click here). The title of Dad’s message – “God, trouble, and you.” Enjoy.

After I updated Caring Bridge yesterday morning, Dad took Jen and the kids and me to the zoo for a few hours. He and Erik bought the year pass when they took Erik’s kids about two weeks ago. It was the same price as the daily admission for Erik, Erin, Dad, and the four kids (since they went to the Aquarium, as well, the next day). The kids loved. I think Dad loved it even more. A change of pace and a chance to be with four of his grandkids.

The kids and Jen headed back to the apartment afterward, and Dad and I went to be with Mom for a while. She was doing well. During therapy yesterday, they stood her up and supported her twice. She stood in that position, supported, for 2 and 1/2 minutes each time. PRETTY AWESOME!!!

T

his morning, while we were with her, the infection doctor told us that her lungs and blood and urine were clear of infection. The only one left – her bedsore on her bottom and bone infection there. Please pray for that to clear. We are awaiting word from the doctors as to when Mom can have the surgery to replace the bone piece on her head. Hopefully soon.

Dad had another rehab session this morning. It went well. Then, he got a treat. Two guys from First Baptist Marrero took us to Drago’s. Thanks to Emmitt Fox and Ronnie (the pastor) and First Baptist Marrero for how you all have prayed for and supported our family while we have been so close by. Dad was interim pastor there at one time. They sure have loved on our family.

We are about to head back over to see Mom. We are going to bring her some mashed sweet potatoes from Copelands. She has been cleared to eat soft stuff. Please pray she will eat more and more. She needs the strength.

And speaking of strength, please pray for her rehab daily. She is progressing very slowly, but it is progress nonetheless. We are thankful. She is speaking well now with the passy muir valve. It is great to “talk” with her.

Hope you enjoy Dad’s sermon. Hope you get the chance to watch it. Thanks for how you continue to show us God’s love in the midst of all the trouble of the last nine weeks. You have been such blessings to us.

Erik and I both have expressed how tough this has all been. And it has. The hardest thing we have ever walked through. I can’t imagine having walked through it without the encouragement of all of you. We are grateful for you and for the amazing miracle that Mom and Dad are. We see God in the midst of our troubles everyday. And that is so beautiful. His nearness.

Thank You, Lord, for coming near.
-jason