Check Out My Sister's New Blog...

www.teamarthur5.blogspot.com

Thought you might enjoy my sister's new blog!

P.S. Thanks for your prayers during our travels to New Orleans.  We had a fabulous time of prayer and praise at NOBTS.  May the Lord make His Name great in New Orleans!

NOBTS Women's Prayer & Praise Service

Providence Gate with Leavell Chapel in the background on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary...

"... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This evening I will be traveling down to NOBTS to take part in leading a women's prayer & praise service on the seminary campus.  We will be spending some time in praise of the Lord Most High and time on our knees in prayer over the following: the city of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans area, area churches, local ministries, different facets of NOBTS life, sister seminaries, personal supplication, our nation and the upcoming election, as well as for our missionaries to the ends of the earth.  Please pray for our travel (I am blessed to have Lisa Pigott accompanying me) and for a sweet time of worship and intercession!

WN2W

Thanks for your prayers yesterday.  We enjoyed a wonderful evening of worship, the Word, fashion 101 and fellowship with ladies at First Baptist Church of Mt. Olive.  I must also mention that we had a wonderful time last week with the precious ladies of Highland Baptist Church in Laurel.  It has been fun doing ministry with Lisa, Jill and Michelle.  They are fabulous sisters in the faith!  Looking forward to future ministry together!

A Quick Update...

* Tony and I got Mississippi driver's licenses today in less than an hour!

* Tomorrow (Saturday) we meet with our new social worker to update our adoption home study.

* We look forward to worship on Sunday morning to topics of anxiety (Matt. 6) and discipleship (2 Timothy)

* On Monday I will be traveling down to the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to lead in a Women's Prayer & Praise service... Excited to have another ministry opportunity with Lisa

Blessings to each of you!  Have a wonderful, restful weekend!

Holiness: From the Heart to the Hemline

Please pray for Lisa Pigott and myself as we travel to Mt. Olive Baptist Church for another WN2W Women's Event.  Pray for the Lord's grace as we lead in worship and teaching...  We long to glorify HIS Great Name tonight!  Thank you for your prayers and encouragment!

New CD

This summer I had the privilege of joining a talented team of worshippers to record some original songs from the Psalms.  Please visit the website to sample some of those songs at www.reclaimedpraise.com.  Let me know if you are interested in a copy.  Thanks.  

A New Book

Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World

by C.J. Mahaney

"Life in this fallen world can draw our hearts far from God and from growth in godliness. Worldliness equips you to search your heart for the presence of worldliness and gives practical help for resisting the world's influence in the areas of media, modesty, music, and material possessions."

As I began my studies today, I came across a brand new book from C. J Mahaney (www.SovereignGraceMinistries.org) called, "Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World".  There are excerpts available on his website if you are interested in learning more.  After reading excerpts from several of the chapters I went ahead and ordered 5 copies.  :)

I was reminded of Jesus' prayer in John 17:16-18, 

"They are not of the world just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth.  As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."  

May our Gracious God grant us grace as we seek to walk worthy of our calling! 

Blue Tarps

Today we were especially blessed by the Temple BC Disaster Relief Team (led by Larry Ponder) as they stopped by our house in Louisiana (they were headed back down to Houma) in order to put a blue tarp over our roof.  What an incredible blessing!  We had learned yesterday that the roof had taken quite a toll after Hurricane Gustav.  It is likely the whole roof will need to be replaced.  Fun times.  

Please pray for this mission team as they work to help families in Houma recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Gustav.  May our Gracious Lord bless them and make His face shine upon them for the glory of His Name! (Psalm 67)

House for Sale

We just received word that our house in LaPlace sustained more damage than initially thought. Our insurance adjustor is en route to explore the leak.  Please pray that this can be taken care of quickly AND for buyers!  Thanks!  

Women's Event

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect... 

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." 

Romans 12:1-2; 13:14

Please pray for Lisa Pigott, Jill Hodge and myself as we travel to Laurel for "What Not To Wear: Remembering Who You Are in Christ" Women's event.  Pray that the Lord would...

* Keep us safe as we travel

* Grant us His peace to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus as we lead

*Enable Lisa and Jill to effectively communicate the truth of the Gospel in their presentations... to do so with boldness, clarity and love

* Draw unbelievers to Himself

* Awaken hearts of believing sisters to walk in holiness, purity and modesty

* Make HIS glory known in our midst

Amen.

Prayer Requests...

"The LORD sets the prisoners free; 

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; 

the LORD loves the righteous.  

The LORD watches over the sojourners; 

he upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  

The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations.  

Praise the Lord!" 

Psalm 146:8-10

I love the Psalms!  How they speak to my soul and oftentimes for my soul.  Psalm 146:8, in particular, has become my prayer for someone very dear to my heart who "walks in the darkness, and does not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded their eyes." (1 John 2:11)  No doubt, you could add a name or two to the list of loved ones walking in darkness... So, I ask that you would join me in fervent prayer for our lost loved ones.  

Would you also take a moment to pray for my sister, Priscilla, who is, along with her husband, seeking to make HIS Name great in Southeast Virginia?  Her household is battling the flu and tomorrow (Wednesday) is Bible Study.  She has a handful of ladies signed up to attend and at least one of those ladies does not know the Lord.  Pray that God would strengthen Priscilla, grant her wisdom and that God would miraculously bring Priscilla's  friend to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Adoption Update

We are continuing to settle in at our new home in Hattiesburg. These past two weeks have been exhausting as our bodies and minds are adjusting to a different routine.  I will say it was so nice to pack my suitcase and traveling toiletry bag away indefinitely!  I have lived out of them for over a year!  Thanks to all at TBC who have helped us feel right at home!

www.newbeginningsadoptions.com

  Many of you have asked or may be wondering how our adoption process is going. Here's the latest as best as I can explain...

Prior to our move from New Orleans to Hattiesburg, we updated all our paperwork including the job transition.  All of that paperwork (a.k.a. our dossier) is currently in Ukraine in the hands of our facilitator.  All we have been told is that things were slowed to a stand still over the summer but there is movement once again in the processing of dossiers.  

Meanwhile, we need to update our paperwork to reflect our new physical address.  In order to do so, we are having to contract another social worker/agency that is in-state (New Beginnings Adoptions in Tupelo).  We have a list of things to complete in order to finish the update with them... For example:

* 4 Home Visits with a Social Worker to update the Home Study

* Background checks from every state we've lived in since 18 years old

* FBI background checks

* Updated Physical Address on our Immigration paperwork

It is my understanding that we could still be submitted (i.e. assigned a travel date) and would just need to have all of the above items updated prior to travel.  With all of that said, please pray for a smooth update process... that things would get done efficiently and timely.  

Thank you for your prayers.  We are excited about what the Lord is doing and trust in His Providential timing!  Blessings to each of you!

"This God - his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 18:30)

www.lifelineadoption.org

A Prayer and Psalm for My Sister...

Tomorrow, Sept. 7th, my sister (Jessica) will begin her trip back to Iraq for another six months.  Please join me in praying for her physical, emotional and most importantly, spiritual protection...

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  

When shall I come and appear before God?  

My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?"

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me?  Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"

As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, "Where is your God?"

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 42 (ESV; emphasis mine)

I love you, Jess...

Getting Settled...

Titus rests while we work at unpacking boxes stuffed with objects wrapped in paper, paper and more paper (ha ha)...  We enjoyed a restful Labor Day listening to  the rain fall and wind blow through the trees outside.  We are very grateful for a weakened Hurricane Gustav.  The Sovereign Lord is gracious to us.  Our prayers continue to be with friends and loved ones who anxiously await permission to return to New Orleans.  We also await news on how our house in LaPlace faired the storm.  We will keep you updated.  Meanwhile, we pray the Lord's peace that surpasses understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus... (Phil. 4:4-7)