Please Pray for Ella...She Has Brain Tumor

This is a forwarded message from my mother-in-law concerning Ella, a 5-year old girl with in inoperable brain tumor. Please read the letter below. May your heart be touched...
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On Sunday, April 27th, Ella Newmiller and her family attended church at Edenton Street United Methodist, in Raleigh, as they do each week. Ella is in my son Scott's, 4 year old Sunday School class. Ella did not feel well that evening. Her parents, Renae and Mark, took her to an urgent care facility. On Monday, they found themselves at UNC Hospitals, being faced with the news that their precious daughter has an inoperable brain tumor. It is located at the base of her brain, inside the brain stem.

Friday, May 2nd, was Ella's 5th birthday. Friends at Edenton Street pulled together an amazing celebration for "Princess Ella". She arrived in a horse drawn carriage and was greeted by over 100 friends dressed in their royal best. "Mr. and Miss Wolf" from NC State, plus "Stormy", from the Carolina Hurricanes joined in the celebration. There was a DJ, beauty queens, bubbles, balloons and presents.

Ella's mother, Renae, commented, "We don't need meals or errands. The only thing we really need is PRAYER." Renae asked me to tell friends, "even if they don't know Ella", to please pray. She asked that those friends ask 10 friends (even if they don't know the Newmillers) to pray. So, I am asking you to pray daily for Ella Newmiller, for the oncologists and physicians directing her care, for her parents, Renae and Mark, and for her brother Jack (2nd grade). Pray for God's healing hand. Pray for both direction and comfort for Ella's family. Also pray for strength and courage for Ella. Additionally, if you feel led, please forward this prayer request to friends.

I am attaching a photo of Ella from Friday's 5th birthday celebration. If you would like updates on Ella, please log onto her care page at www.carepages.com , under Ella Newmiller. There are simple prompts to help you log on. Thanks~

with love,

Louise
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Don't WORRY, Be Happy...

Worry doesn't accomplish anything.
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:8, NIV

There's no need to worry—God has everything under control.
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:31-33, NIV

We cannot remove worry until we replace it with something better—prayer.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Worrying is a waste of time.
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Luke 12:25-26

Give all your worries to the Lord.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

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Contentment

What brings contentment? Contentment is a gift from God and grows out of having His perspective on life.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13, NIV

Contentment grows out of humility and trust in God.
"My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me." Psalm 131:1, NIV.

Contentment grows out of devotion to Christ and eternal values.
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24, NIV

Coveting is a barrier to contentment.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17, NIV.

Materialism is a barrier to contentment.
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." I Timothy 6:9, NIV.

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The Story of Faninus - Italy, 1550

In the 1500's, Christians throughout Europe who read copies of the Bible in their own language, instead of Latin, were condemned to die as heretics. Faninus was one of the first martyrs to die in Italy.

Faninus, a "learned layman", read illegal Christian books translated into Italian and was converted to the knowledge of Christ. He began to secretly teach the Gospel, but was soon caught and thrown into prison. While in prison, however, his wife, children and friends all visited him and finally convinced him to renounce his faith to obtain his release.

Once free from confinement, however, Faninus found that he actually was not free at all and reports state that "his mind felt the heaviest of chains; the weight of a guilty conscience." He reaffirmed his dedication to Christ and began publicly preaching the gospel all throughout the country with great fruit and effect in places that he went.

Not surprisingly, Faninus was arrested a second time in 1547, and this time he did not waver in his faith. When asked how he could leave his wife and children in distress, he replied, "I shall not leave them in distress; I have recommended them to the care of an excellent trustee."

"What trustee?" was the question, to which Faninus replied, "Jesus Christ is the trustee I mean, and I think I could not commit them to the care of a better."

After more than two years in prison, he was condemned to death for heresy. On the day of execution, an observer noted that Faninus was amazingly cheerful and told him, "It is strange you should appear so merry upon such an occasion, When Jesus Christ himself, just before his death, was in such agonies, that he sweated blood and water." This was Faninus' reply: "Christ sustained all manner of pangs and conflicts, with hell and death, on our accounts; and thus by his sufferings, freed those who really believe in him from the fear of them."

The executioner strangled Faninus three hours before dawn, so people would not see him nor hear him speak. His body was burnt, and believers later scattered his ashes throughout the territory where he had evangelized.

Source: VOM

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Today in History - May 2

Today is Friday, May 2, the 123rd day of 2008. There are 243 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

One hundred years ago, on May 2, 1908, the original version of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," with music by Albert Von Tilzer and lyrics by Jack Norworth, was copyrighted by Von Tilzer's York Music Co.

On this date:

In 1670, the Hudson Bay Company was chartered by England's King Charles II.

In 1863, Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was accidentally wounded by his own men at Chancellorsville, Va.; he died eight days later.

In 1890, the Oklahoma Territory was organized.

In 1936, "Peter and the Wolf," a symphonic tale for children by Sergei Prokofiev, had its world premiere in Moscow.

In 1945, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin, and the Allies announced the surrender of Nazi troops in Italy and parts of Austria.

In 1957, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, the controversial Republican senator from Wisconsin, died at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

In 1957, crime boss Frank Costello narrowly survived an attempt on his life in New York; the alleged gunman, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, was acquitted at trial after Costello refused to identify him as the shooter.

In 1960, Caryl Chessman, who became a best-selling author while on death row for kidnapping, robbery and sexual offenses, was executed at San Quentin Prison in California.

In 1965, Intelsat 1, also known as the Early Bird satellite, was first used to transmit television pictures across the Atlantic.

In 1972, after serving 48 years as head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover died in Washington at age 77.

Ten years ago: In separate radio addresses, President Clinton and congressional Republicans lambasted the Internal Revenue Service and promised more reforms to prevent future abuses by the agency. Real Quiet won the Kentucky Derby.

Five years ago: A federal court struck down most of the new campaign finance law's ban on the use of large corporate and union contributions by political parties. (However, the Supreme Court later ruled that rooting out corruption, or even the appearance of it, justified limitations on the free speech and free spending of contributors, candidates and political parties.) India and Pakistan agreed to hold talks on settling a half-century of disputes that had drawn them into three wars.

One year ago: In a defeat for anti-war Democrats, Congress failed to override President Bush's veto of legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Bush declared al-Qaida "public enemy No. 1 in Iraq."

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Bible Hotline

The following is sent to me by email from my good friend Kim.

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You can now read the Bible at the click of a button.....no more excuses for not reading it.
These are more effective than 911...

WHEN -

You are sad, phone JOHN 14

You have sinned, phone PSALM 51

You are facing danger, phone PSALM 91

People have failed you, phone PSALM 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone PSALM 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone HEBREWS 11

You are alone and scared, phone PSALM 23

You are worried, phone MATTHEW 8:19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 CORINTHIANS 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 CORINTHIANS 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone ROMANS 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone MATTHEW 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone PSALM 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone ROMANS 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip, phone PSALM 121

You are praying for yourself, phone PSALM 87

You require courage for a task, phone JOSHUA 1

Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone MARK 10:17-31

You are depressive, phone PSALM 27

Your bank account is empty, phone PSALM 37

You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 CORINTHIANS 13

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone JOHN 15

You are losing hope, phone PSALM 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone PSALM 19

You want to carry fruit, phone JOHN 15

Paul's secret for happiness, phone COLOSSIANS 3:12-17

With big opportunity/discovery, phone ISAIAH 55

To get along with other people, phone ROMANS 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS

For dealing with fear, call PSALM 47

For security, call PSALM 121:3

For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call PSALM 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.

NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.

ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

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Today in History - May 1

Today is Thursday, May 1, the 122nd day of 2008. There are 244 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey gave the command, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," as an American naval force destroyed a Spanish squadron in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

On this date:

In 1707, the Kingdom of Great Britain was created as a treaty merging England and Scotland took effect.

In 1786, Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" premiered in Vienna.

In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition opened to the public in Chicago.

In 1931, New York's 102-story Empire State Building was dedicated.

In 1945, a day after Adolf Hitler committed suicide, Adm. Karl Doenitz effectively became sole leader of the Third Reich with the suicide of Hitler's propaganda minister, Josef Goebbels.

In 1960, the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane near Sverdlovsk and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers.

In 1963, James W. Whittaker became the first American to conquer Mount Everest as he and a Sherpa guide reached the summit.

In 1967, Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas. (They divorced in 1973.)

In 1978, Ernest Morial was inaugurated as the first black mayor of New Orleans.

In 1982, the 1982 World's Fair opened in Knoxville, Tenn.

Ten years ago: Eldridge Cleaver, the fiery Black Panther leader who later renounced his past and became a Republican, died in Pomona, Calif., at age 62. Former Rwandan Prime Minister Jean Kambanda pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the 1994 genocide of more than half a million Tutsis. (Kambanda was later sentenced to life in prison.)

Five years ago: President Bush, flying aboard an S-3B Viking, landed on the deck of the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the Southern California coast. With a banner strung across the bridge of the ship proclaiming "Mission Accomplished," the president declared major combat in Iraq over, but also said "difficult work" remained ahead. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake killed 177 people in Turkey.

One year ago: In only his second veto, President Bush rejected legislation to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq in a showdown with Congress over whether the war should end or escalate. Thousands of people protested across the country to demand a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

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