168 Colonial Drive, Jackson, MS 39204
Spend a Minute with God
"Beloved Jesus, please infuse Your Peace into my innermost being. As I sit quietly in the Light of Your Presence, I long to sense Your Peace growing within me. This isn't something I can accomplish through self-discipline and willpower; it's a matter of opening myself up to receive Your blessing. In this age of independence, it's counter-cultural as well as counterintuitive to acknowledge my neediness. However, You have taken me along a path that has highlighted my need for You - placing me in situations where my strengths were irrelevant and my weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, You drew me closer and closer to Yourself. Moreover, You provided lovely surprises that in that sun-scorched land. I discovered plants of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places! You've been teaching me to thank you for the hard times and difficult journeys - trusting that, through them, You accomplish Your best work. And I'm learning that needing You is the key to knowing You intimately, which is the gift above all gifts! In Your incomparable Name, Amen,"
John 14:27; Isaiah 58:11; Ephesians 5:20
"Jesus Listens" by Sarah Young
Our prayers go out to the entire Sarah Young family in her passing the 1st week of September.
Church Family Prayer List
May we as Christians never forget the beginnings of our faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross
(Please help us keep this list current; call Sid, Terry, or the church office to update this. Thank you.
SYMPATHY
The Alta Woods Baptist Church Family extends its prayers and deepest sympathy to
Maggie Hartle in the loss of her sister, Nancy Hancock
James Ware and family on the loss of his mother, Emmaline Ware on Wednesday, August 30.
MEMBERS
Brother Steve, Continue to pray for his complete recovery.
Frances Breeden
Kay Carroll, getting over Covid
Ernest Easterling, home and battling with eating all pureed food
Nona Ellzey, not doing well, bedridden
Maggie Hartle
Tyler Jackson, Billy Ray said doctors were planning to reverse Tyler's colostomy in October
Betty Jones, back issues
Barbara Kirby, Knee replacement, October 2, went well
Hal Lott, hip bursitis
Leianne Loveless
Buddy Parker, better, has been to church recently
Pat and Mary Renegar
Del and Janie Slone, house burned in November 2022. Staying in the Hilton Garden Inn, Madison
Delma Smith
Bobby Staples
HOMEBOUND
Lucretia Berry; Laverne Brooks; Doug Cutrer; Ernest Easterling; Nona Ellzey; Gene Hartzog; George Harrigill; Evelyn Kinstley ; Jean Johnson; Carolyn Moulds
Members / Retirement / Assisted Living / Nursing Homes / Rehabs
BALLARD, DABNEY, B 105 Riggs Manor (601-857-5011; 2300 Seven Springs Road, Raymond, MS 39154)
CLAY, CAROL, D16, The Home Place (7521 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110)
COOPER, KELLY Harmony Court (769-251-2098; 5411 I-55 North, Jackson, MS)
FERRELL, NAOMI Community Place 116 Lake Vista Place room 409, Brandon, 30947
JARRETT, ALVILDA at Brandon Court
MILLER, BECKY The Waterford RM 253
MORRIS, PAM, moved to Plainview in Richland
PENNINGTON, VIRGINIA Martha Coker Home-Patrick. 2041 Grand Ave, Yazoo City, MS 39194
SHELTON, MARGARET The Arrington, Room 418 Section B, Columbus, MS
STEVENS, VELMA Castlewoods Retirement, RM 248
Former Members / Non-Church Members
IN ASSISTED LIVING
ELLIS, MARY LOU - Castlewoods Retirement, RM 227
MALONE, LINDA (Emma Ritchie's niece, The Arbor (behind The Orchard 601-856-2205; 600 Pear Orchard Rd, Ridgeland, MS 39157)
NON-MEMBERS
Sympathy to the Bracey Family, in the loss of Sandra's cousin
Sympathy to Mary Lynn Stampley Cheves, in the passing of her son Michael Stampley Cheves, in New Bern, NC
Sympathy to Evelyn Kinstley family in the passing of her grandson in law, Tyler Cummings
Mary Alday, Kathy Gillis' mother, swollen place on her face
Bill Ballou, former staff member, improving, using walker, undergoing radiation
Clarence Cooper, pastor Brandon Baptist, fell, sustained broken neck
Cathy Creekmore
Jeanette Davis' granddaughter, Elise Milliman,
Jeanette Davis granddaughter, Abby Ades, Marfan syndrome
Janie Dukes, Kay Carroll’s daughter
Ann Graham, Annice Page's mother, fell recently, in a swing bed, Mountain View Nursing Home
Jack Hammond, Lark's brother, doing OK
Bobbie Hammond
Maggie Hartle for strength spiritually and physically
Teresa Howard, Maggie's daughter
Bryan James, Rick James' brother, surgery was successful, September 12, in CA
Rick James' step brother, Robert Malone, stroke
John Will Kahlbau, Gillis' cousin
Rhett Lee, great nephew of Barbara Kirby, doing good
Nancy Myers, Mary Ann's mother, Home from hospital, Sept 22
Charles Saik, former member, battling acute aggressive leukemia. Son, Paul is requesting prayers
Paul Slone, Del's brother, heart issues, better
Bobby Joe Smith, Delma brother-in-law, Parkinson's
Lee Smith, Delma's son, kidney stones, another procedure scheduled
Melanie Strong, Ann Marie's friend, not doing well
Doc Thaggard, recurring melanoma, neck surgery in future
Melissa Thaxton, Billie Welch's cousin, 2 broken wrists
Sue Wells, had hip surgery redone, in therapy, still unable to walk alone
Gerry Winstead, vocal cord, voice getting weaker
Dr. Wayne van Horn’s wife, Terri, stage 4 bone cancer, chemotherapy
Protect our children
From Kathy Thaggard
From the wisdom of Corrie ten Boom’s father:
“So the line had stuck in my head. “Sex,” I was pretty sure, meant whether you were a boy or girl, and “sin” made Tante Jans very angry, but what the two together meant I could not imagine. And so, seated next to Father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, “Father, what is sex sin?” He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.
“Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?” he said.
I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.
“It’s too heavy,” I said.
“Yes,” he said. “And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.” - from The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom
We are asking our children to carry loads that are way too heavy for them. They should not be forced, as children, to see and feel the world through the lens of adults. Innocence is worth protecting and worth fighting for. We need to do our part as parents and caregivers to carry certain things for them until they are old enough to bear the load.
Praying for your Children and Grandchildren
COVER OUR CHILDREN (copied)
ISAIAH 54:17
I pray that you cover my children. Give them the helmet of salvation to protect their minds against messages competing for their attention. Guard their hearts, Lord, from anger. depression, anxiety, loneliness, or anything that would make them feel unworthy of love. No weapon formed against them shall prosper. In Jesus' Name.
PSALM 91:10
Keep your hedge of protection around them as they sleep, as they go to school, as they participate in extracurricular activities, as they get jobs. Let them fear nothing. Let no evil befall them. I know that I can't be around them every minute. I thank you, Father, God, for never leaving them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Praying for Schools
Carolyn Tomlin, from the Baptist Paper has shared 10 ways we can pray for schools
1. Pray for the safety of children, students, teachers and staff since school shootings have become so common.
2. Pray for dedicated teachers who see each child as a success. Ben Franklin said “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. “
3. Pray each child will be seen as an individual loved by God. When we work together, differences can make us strong.
4. Pray students will embrace racial and cultural distinctions.
5. Pray students will show compassion and respect to people with disabilities. That they will help others who need companionship.
6. Pray children will learn how to make friends and how to be a friend to others.
7. Pray for off campus trips- that bus drivers will be experienced and competent.
8. Pray for students and leaders who will participate in after school activities to support .
9. Pray for parents and community to support schools by volunteering, by attending school functions or offering encouragement to teachers and staff
10. Look for opportunities to let others know how church members are praying for schools and teachers.
Ways to Pray for Those in Authority
An excellent reminder to pray for those in authority
Scripture instructs us to pray for all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), but how do we do that exactly? Here are several ways to pray for - our judges, police chiefs, educators, school board members, military officers, elected officials, and others who are serving our country in leadership.
1. That they be God-fearing and recognize that they are accountable to Him for each decision and act. Proverbs 9:10
2. That they be granted wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. James 1:5
3. That they be presented with the gospel and a loving Christian witness. Romans 10:14
4. That, if unsaved, that be drawn to a saving encounter with Christ; if born-again, that they be strengthened and encouraged in their faith. 1 Timothy 2:4; Ephesians 1:17-23
5. That they recognize their own inadequacy and pray and seek the will of God. Proverbs 3:5-8; Luke 11:9-13
6. That they be convicted of sin, transgression, and iniquity. Psalm 51:17; John 8:9
7. That they be given godly counsel and God-fearing advisors. Proverbs 24:6
8. That they be honest and faithful to their spouses and children. Malachi 2:15-16
9. That they value and regard the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Christ. Psalm 19:7-11; John 8:31-32
10. That they be honest, possess godly integrity, and desire purity avoiding drunkenness, pornography and perversion. 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Psalm 26; Proverbs 11:3
10 Ways to Pray for Baptists in and near Ukraine
Rob Jackson, President, Romanian-American Mission, working with churches across Europe, March 15
(We have seen God answer some of these prayers already. Sid)
1. As with Solomon, I ask God to give the Ukrainian leaders (and all leaders in these difficult times) wisdom from above (1 Kings3:5-12).
2. As with David, I ask God to show Himself as Ukraine faces their Goliath (1 Samuel 17). I am asking that the world will see "some trust in chariots, others trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7).
3. As with Gideon, I pray God will confuse the Russian army (like the Midianites) so they will turn on each other, become demoralized, flee and desert (Judges 7).
4. As with Hezekiah, I ask that "Sennacherib" will return in defeat to his homeland (2 Kings 19:32-37).
5. As with Moses, I pray the "chariots or tanks and all vehicles will get stuck in the mud, run out of gas and break down. Furthermore, may God so thwart the Russian army that their rockets, missiles and bombs malfunction and cause minimal damage (Exodus 14:21-29).
6. As with Elisha, I ask God to blind the enemies surrounding the cities, so they are rendered ineffective (2 Kings 6:11-23).
7. As with Daniel, I pray God will remove the leader(s) who mocks the Lord our God. I pray Vladimir Putin will fear and see the handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5).
8. As with Peter, I pray Baptist churches (and other churches and relief organizations) will feed the Ukrainian "sheep" in the name of Jesus. I pray the refugees who are flooding the neighboring countries seeking food, shelter, transportation, spiritual help and so forth will see Jesus in us (John 21:15-17).
9. As with all Christians, I pray we will be shown what each of us can do (individually and collectively) to help alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine (Matthew 25:35.
10. Finally, I pray Ukrainians, Russians and the entire world will be amazed at what God is doing, resulting in a worldwide revival and awakening as people repent and believe the good news of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41). There will be no lasting peace until the world acknowledges the Prince of Peace!
Praying for Ulrainian Christians
Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission printed this prayer guide for Christians in and near Ukraine
1. Pray for safe travel for those fleeing danger within Ukraine, for God's Presence to provide them with hope and assurance, for the churches providing refuge to have enough resources to meet the growing needs.
2. Pray humanitarian aid funds will reach their destination, be used wisely and accomplish God's purpose.
3. Pray for God's protection for Baptists and all Christians in Ukraine, for hope in suffering, for love toward their enemies and for the gospel to spread beyond borders.
4. Pray for God to provide churches in Ukraine and neighboring countries with an abundance of resources and opportunities to share the gospel as they receive refugees.
5. Pray for Baptist missionaries and others like them to be filled with God's spirit as they share the hope of the gospel and embody the sacrificial love of Christ.