Father's Day- June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day! What a treat it was to be in the house of the Lord on such a special day for many! For those who this was their first Father's Day, we hope it was a great day for you. Take time to thank Jesus for the precious gift of children! Some have lost their dads, but take comfort in knowing you will see them again one day. Memories are special gifts that God has granted us. Make many with your children!

We heard a great message from my parent's pastor where he encouraged all fathers to let their children see and hear them pray. He also asked that the father's let their children know where they would spend eternity so that if they did not wake in the morning, their children would not have to question where they were spending eternity. Be a living testimony of God's goodness before your children. Be the spiritual leader that God has called you to be!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Tonya Connor had baby Abby Grace. She entered the world a little small. I have tried to call today and get an update, but no one answered. I will try again later. Please pray that all is well with Abby. Pray that Tonya and Bobby get some rest and are able to adjust well to another little one being in the house. Also remember Drew as he learns to handle his new role as "The Big Brother!"

The Ellis' neighbor- he passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. Please remember this family as they cope with their loss. Let's join together and pray that they will seek and find comfort through Jesus.

The family of the man who lost his life Sunday in the Coosa- Jenn Ellis mentioned this family on facebook. Please pray for comfort for this family as well. Losing a loved one is never easy, especially when it occurs due to traumatic accidents.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sunday School Social- ???
Meal Ministry for Connor Family- ???
Places of Service- See Charles to get plugged in!

Hope you all have a blessed week! Hope to see you Sunday!!! Stay Cool!!

June 14, 2009

May others see Jesus in us and may He be very well pleased with our words and actions. Thank you Charles for a great lesson this week. May it be our prayer that we be mindful of others and that we will remember to love them as Christ has loved us. We were so glad to have a couple visitors with us this week, but missed those who could not be with us. We pray all is well and we will see your faces this coming Sunday.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
The Connor family- down to the final 2 weeks before Abbey Grace (Abbi Grace, Abby Grace, Abbie Grace-not sure on the spelling yet) joins the Connor household. Let's remember to pray for a safe and quick delivery for Tonya, calm nerves for Bobby and that Drew will adjust well to a new little one in the home.

Jenn Ellis' friend- delivered new baby today. Be in prayer for this family as they welcome their new little one home.

PRAISES:
VBS is complete with one known salvation. God is so good!!

The Connor's are official members of FB! Welcome Connor Family!!!

Jenn Ellis received an offer from both schools and has accepted the position with Eclectic Elementary. Yea Jenn!!!

REMEMBER...
Once the Connors are home, our meal ministry will begin. Be thinking of something good you can make (or buy) that will be a treat to this family.

June 28- We will be joining with the Pathfinders Sunday School class for fellowship and Bible study.

Be thinking of a good time for a fun fellowship...Obed wants a cookout!!!

Hope you all have a blessed week. Be a blessing to someone! Smile, give a kind word or lend a listening ear!!

June 7, 2009

The Love Dare Bible study is complete. I hope you all learned more about yourselves, your spouses and your marriages over the past 8 weeks. Take what you have learned and try to apply it daily. Never forget to let your partner know how special they are and how much you love them! Thank God for them daily!!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Sam Hays Family- he passed away after prolonged liver illness. Please remember his family as they lay him to rest and then try to find a new normal.

The Mills Family- still trying to put the pieces back together after the loss of Lydia Grace. Please remember her parents as they transition back home and will have to take apart the nursery. I can not imagine how many emotions they must be feeling. Pray for comfort, peace and strength.

Buddy Ingram- Laura Beth's father; has to travel a lot with work. Please pray the the Florida position will be filled soon so that he will be able to stay at home more. His travels are also hard on Laura Beth's mom.

Gerald Bittle- Jenn's dad; fell and had to be off work and now has other complications he has had to take a second leave from work for. Please pray for him and for Jenn's mom as she cares for his needs. Pray that they too will feel the Lord's comfort.

Jenn Ellis- had 2 job interviews this week. Please pray that God would make His direction for her career obvious and that child care options will come easily. Please pray for a smooth transition for both Jenn and Troy (Obed, too).

VBS-workers, leaders and the children attending. Pray that souls will be saved.

PRAISES:
Evan's Dr. appointment at Children's went well. No glasses. He will begin yearly eye exams at 3 years of age.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Continue to think and pray about areas where you can serve the Lord. Ask, listen and make yourself available to respond to His call.

Sunday School Social!

We had a great time of fellowship and food at the Catfish House this past Friday night! Sunday School Socials are so much fun!!!

May 31, 2009

What a wonderful class we had this week!Thank you so much for attending and participating in great discussion!Pray for your marriage, for your spouse and for yourself. Pray that God may reveal areas where you need some extra work! Try to take the things we learned this week and forgive one another in areas where we may fall short.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Mills family- Baby Lydia Grace passed away and was buried. Please remember this family as they transition and try to move forward. Please pray that the Lord will lead people to their path that will encourage and lift them up. This will be difficult to move past, but with God's guidance and love, it is possible. Pray for God's peace and reassurance.

Connor family- Sweet Baby Girl is on the way and will be here before we know it! Please remember Tonya, Bobby and Drew as they prepare in the final weeks! Please pray that Tonya will be able to rest as much as possible these next few weeks and that Drew will handle the transition from being the only child to the big brother well.

Evan Talley- will be going to see the Opthomologist (?spelling) on Friday for his lazy eye. Please pray that whatever treatment is needed to correct the problem will be easy for him. Please pray for traveling graces as we travel to and from Children's in Birmingham.

Vacation Bible School- begins June 8th. Please be in prayer for the children who will be attending, the volunteers who are spending their time to teach the children about God's love, for the parents who are entrusting their children to our church workers, for Charles and the VBS leader who are guiding this weeks journey and most importantly that God's will be done through next week's VBS. This coming week is the biggest evangelistic opportunity we are given to reach out to children. Many come to know Jesus through a VBS experience. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We have been given a Proverbs Chapter-A-Day Challenge for the month of June! You are challenged to read, think about and pray over one chapter of the book of Proverbs each day. This will help us to become better grounded for our daily devotions! Pray for one another that we will be up to the challenge and that we will not grow weary in our attempts with daily quiet time with the Lord.

Saturday June 6, all ladies of our class are invited to a canvas art party at the Talley home. The brunch begins at 10 am. Leave your husbands and children at home, bring $20 with you, come for fun, food and fellowship and leave with a one of a kind masterpiece that you create all on your own. No art experience needed! If you know you are going to be able to join in on the fun, please email me at bama1fan7582@yahoo.com.

PRAISES:
Welcome Ellis family! We are so glad to have you officially part of the First Baptist Church Family! Please be in prayer for the Ellis family as they find their place in the church and search for opportunities to further serve God.

During the 3 day VBS held in Centreville (my hometown, my parent's church) there were 17 professions of faith! Praise the Lord! Please pray that these children will continue to grow in their walk with the Lord!!

I pray that you all have a wonderful week! We hope to see you on Sunday!! Don't forget to lift one another and our class up in prayer this week! Take time to talk to Jesus with your spouse!!

Mother's Day 2009

What a great Mother's Day the Lord blessed us with! For some of us, it was our very first with our little ones and what sweet memories we made. For others, they are seasoned pros but I am sure it was just as special as the first! For a few, it may have been a sad day of remembering those who have gone to be with the Lord. Whatever the case, we can praise the Lord for remembered memories of old or new ones made this past Sunday! For those who were out, please know you were missed and we hope you will be with us this Sunday. Thanks Charles for a great lesson this week. I hope you all are enjoying "studying" your mate as much as I am. I thought I knew a lot about James, but am learning there are still questions that need to be asked. I hope that you "talkers" in the relationship have learned to be quiet and listen a little this week and you "quiet" ones have learned to open up and share a little more!!!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
The Forbus family found a new home. They will close in June. Please be in prayer that this will be a smooth transition and when called upon to help with the moving process, we as their class will be there for them.

The Connors are preparing for sweet baby girl! Please be in prayer as they are getting their home and themselves ready for her arrival. Also, remember Bobby (and Tonya) as he is facing false accusations. PLEASE pray that their stresses can be relieved and that they will be able to fully place this situation in the Lord's hands.

The Sylvest family has construction underway! Please be in prayer that they will be able to endure the construction process and that the Lord will bless us with beautiful weather so that work may occur.

Laura Beth's grandfather, Mr. Ingram is not wanting to get out of bed. Please pray that his will to live will be restored. Also, please pray that his family will be able to make sweet memories with him that they can cherish forever.

Our class- pray that we will follow God's will for our class and that we can be a blessing for others.

Flood victims who lost family members, homes or other valuables. Please pray that they are able to restore soon and are able to put the pieces back together. Please pray that they will learn to depend upon the Lord for His strength.

Heather's grandmother, Sue LeVert- she seemed well on Mother's Day afternoon, but has had to become medicine dependent for sleep. Please pray that she will be able to find comfort and rest other ways (through Jesus).

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Our next social (please see email from Laura Beth for date) at Catfish House. We will also do a "Baby Blessings" for Baby Girl Connor. This will be a fun time of fellowship and food for the whole family. If you know of prospects for our class, invite them to attend as well!

Please be in prayer for a place where you can serve the Lord within our class. There are opportunities for you! Please see Charles if you have questions!!

Hope you have a wonderful week. Take time to see the blessings all around you! See you Sunday!

May 3, 2009

I don't know about you all, but I am finding myself more and more engrossed in the Love Dare! It has become a challenge each day to find new ways to express my love and devotion to James. I am not only learning more about him, but also about myself. I think this study can truly be a blessing in our marriages if we earnestly seek Him through it. Enjoy diving in to this week's lesson! There were several out this week, we hope to see Sunday. Remember, we are in our new classroom! Thanks Laura Beth for breakfast!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Meadowbrook subdivision shooting- Please be in prayer for the family(s) who lost loved ones, for those recovering and for the shooter. How sad it must feel to think that the only way to resolve a disagreement is through violence that results with death. If this man does not know the Lord, please pray for salvation.


The Sylvest family- Charles and Laura Beth have started renovations on the house. Please remember them as they are in the midst of all the construction. Please pray that the weather will cooperate and that they will be able to move things along with no snags. Laura Beth is not feeling well today, please pray that she will be back to herself soon. They also returned home last night to discover the air is not working. Since the temperature is warmer, this may cause some discomfort. Please pray they are able to stay cool and will be able to fix the air conditioner soon.


Please remember Laura Beth's grandfather, Mr. Ingram. Since his strokes and breaking his foot, he is now "giving up" and refusing to eat. Please be in prayer as his family takes care of him. Also, pray that he will once again receive his will to carry on. He has lived a long life and has been healthy until the last several months. Please be in prayer for his physical but more importantly his emotional health.


The Connor's- Bobby has been charged with false accusations. Please pray that the truth be revealed and that he will be cleared. They will be attending court for this matter just 2 weeks before the birth of "sweet baby girl." Pray that Tonya will be able to handle the stress that comes along with such accusations. Please remember to lift them up as they prepare for the new arrival.


PRAISES:
The Forbus family has found a home! Please be in prayer that if this is the house the Lord would have them own, that things will move along quickly and that all will fall into place.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Be thinking about our next social. We are thinking about a cook-out but incorporating a "Baby Blessings" for the Connors!


Please be in prayer about how you can be a leader in our class. There are opportunities for you to serve. Be in prayer and seek for the Lord's will. He wants to use you! Remember, He does not call the equipped, He equips the called!! He will lead you where He can not use you!

As always, LOVE on your spouse this week! Let them know how special they are to you!!