Picayune

by Stephanie Mitchell Edge

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 9:08am.

Where do I even start? I feel like I have so many things to say, and not enough time to say it. I know, I’m only moving ... I’m not dying.. But it's so much more than that. I am moving away from my home. My family. My friends that I have had for as long as I can remember, and some that I just met and feel like I have know forever. Needless to say, I am terrified and excited all in the same breath.

This past year. Wow. If I told you how wonderful the people are who surround me are, you would never believe me. I have seen more acts of kindness and selflessness in the past year than most people see in their entire lifetime. Say what you want about Picayune. Heck, I say a lot too.. But the truth is..it is our home. Everyone knows you, knows your business and sometimes that is the thing that will get you through the roughest part of your life. It's those people who treat you to lunch when you can't afford to go, offer a smile when you are down, drop by to give you a hug when you are stressed, or just simply call to make sure you are okay.

I wish I could go through here and list everyone who has helped me this past year but there is no way. You know who you are. Saying thank you is not enough to express all you have done for me and my family. Your support, prayers, concern, acts of kindness, gestures, understanding, patience... the list just goes on and on. I know whereever I go in life I will never meet friends like the ones I have developed by simply living in this little town. I thank God for this opportunity to see more than Picayune, but I also thank him for allowing me to grow up here... and to raise my children here.

I remember when I was younger I couldn’t wait to leave.. And I did... and quickly realized I wanted to come back..lol. Who knows what God has in store for us..but I know that no matter where I go, or how long I stay.. I can always come back home.

Eternal Love (Rough Draft) - Jordan Vaughan

Jordan Vaughan currently resides in TX but is a native of Picayune, MS.  Please enter into worship with him as you view  and listen to this 'rough draft' the Lord has given him.  He is pursuing his passion of writing and recording his music and lyrics.

There IS Tremendous Power in Words Spoken Over Our Children and City

by: Kelly Sampson

I was putting my make-up on about 3 weeks ago and the Lord told me in the sweetest voice “I have chosen you to speak out for me.”  I told the Lord “I’m not from Picayune.” And He said, “Yes. but He knew in my heart I was feeling it was my home, too.”  I have been feeling this since the day I saw the mascot for The BLUE DEVILS...He told me “Parents all wonder why there is such a problem with drugs and the kids going crazy” and He told me “The parents have been calling their children devils for decades ‘Go Devils,  Go Devils.’” He said “The spoken word is very powerful and they just don’t understand what damage they are doing. Church going people that have been taught and know how powerful the spoken word is and still they call their children Devils!” The Lord said “NO, IT’S NOT JUST A GAME. IT’S THEIR LIVES and FUTURE they’re placing a curse on. The city of Picayune, Pearl River county and other counties will never be drug free and the jail will not stop being over crowded till you stop calling your children devils.”  So there you have it! Now Picayune, its up to you to do what you will with your children. 




~Devil from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The Devil is commonly associated with heretics, infidels, and other unbelievers. The Abrahamic religions have variously regarded the Devil as a rebellious fallen angel or demon that tempts humans to sin or commit evil deeds. Judaism sees the Devil as an adversary and an accuser whose role is assigned rather than assumed.


In mainstream Christianity, God and the Devil are usually portrayed as fighting over the souls of humans, with the Devil seeking to lure people away from God and into Hell. The Devil commands a force of evil angels, commonly known as demons. The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) describes the Adversary (Ha-satan) as an angel who instigates tests upon humankind. Many other religions have a trickster or tempter figure that is similar to the Devil. Modern conceptions of the Devil include the concept that it symbolizes humans' own lower nature or sinfulness.


People put the concept of the Devil to use in social and political conflicts, claiming that their opponents are influenced by the Devil or even willingly supporting the Devil. The Devil has also been used to explain why others hold beliefs that are considered to be false and ungodly.


Death and life are in the power of the tongue .  And those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21

THIS IS THE MASCOT YOU PICKED FOR YOUR CHILDREN??????? 

AND JESUS IS LORD OVER PICAYUNE, MS

Will Your Faith Stand?

by Jennie Heberg (August 26,2011)
Featured in:  Women of Faith
Picayune, Item

~ Just imagine you're a 15 year old living a life that affords you the best your country has to offer.

Your parents have seen to it that you are well established in the best learning facilities available but first and foremost have seen to it that your life is rooted and grounded in a great faith in The One True God, Jehovah.  You attend services regularly as a family, there is a habit of prayer in your household and God is sought in every area of your life.

God has given you great wisdom in all things in your life and you've been equally blessed with friends who are blessed just as you are.  You are of royal blood, living in the palace.

There comes a particular day that all your physical security is destroyed.  Your entire country is overthrown by another and everything to which you've grown accustomed is completely gone.  You, along with many of your friends, approximately 70 who also live in the palace and are of royal descent, have been kidnapped, physically unharmed, and taken to this foreign country who, in an instant, was solely responsible for turning your world completely upside down.

Your family's safety is utterly unknown to you.  As the next few days to by you realize that the King has chosen you and three of your close friends to serve him.  You've all been chosen because of your station in life and because you are well learned in academics, sports, and wisdom.

You've aligned yourself with your friends and have become the lead person in your group acting as the spokesperson.  In the first thirty days of your 'imprisonment' you find that you will be expected to attend classes to learn the language and customs of this new country you've been thrown into.

The King's Top Chefs will be preparing all your food consisting of every delicacy, pastry and drink available to that of only the 'rich and famous' however you've been raised not to partake of these things simply due to your belief in God and His standards.  Not only would these foods be unhealthy for your body, but the meats prepared had been offered up to idols and you've been raised to love and honor The One True God, Jehovah. 

The reasons you are so proficient in your studies, sports, and wisdom is that you honor God, Jehovah in every are of life not allowing foods offered to idols to be eaten.  Instead, you have lived on 'whole foods', health foods if you will, vegetables, grains, whole wheat and water.  You present your desire as a challenge that if you and your three friends can eat these things for ten days of the three years required, that you will prove that you all will test better than any others in the program.  You are given the permission to do so by the man who has been set as Supervisor over all.

At the end of that ten days you and your three friends prove that your God's way is best.  When tested, the four of you prove to be ten times better than any others in every matter of wisdom and understanding that the King consulted you about.  This happened simply because your four trusted your God, Jehovah.

As time goes on the four are put to the test over and over; every time you see the hand of your God, Jehovah deliver you from extreme circumstances.  Your faith stands strong against all your enemies throw at you and you prevail.  This is due to your lifestyle, the fact that you pray, listen to what God, Jehovah directs and you find favor and are friends to many.

The 15 year old we speak of died in the country he was taken to, living to be second in command of the conquering country, a friend to the King.  This young man lived to be over 80 years old before going to meet his God face to face.

This King he worked for came to see the hand of God work in so many ways that at the end of his life he also went to meet his God, Jehovah.  The influence of these four, especially this 15 year old young man, had such a profound influence on their surroundings, community, supervisors and ultimately the King of the country that God, Jehovah gave him favor on earth.

Now, I ask you again, will your faith stand?

~
The 15 year old, 3 friends and 80 year old I am writing about here are Daniel and his friends.  A LifeGroup on the study of the book of Daniel is currently being held in my home.  This article was written prior to the beginning of our group.  Amazing things are already happening. 

Remembering Hurricane Katrina six years later

August 27, 2011

Remembering Hurricane Katrina six years later

By Jodi Marze, Lifestyles Editor The Picayune Item

PICAYUNE — Six years ago today, Gwen Williams (a.k.a. Ms. Chocolate) left her home in New Orleans and her church ministry as a story teller behind as she evacuated to escape Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been six years,” she says.

She recalls when she returned to her home, after the flooding had subsided.


“I came home, after Katrina, to my house that held 30 years of my life, momentos, and furnishings. That day that I came home I saw that my house was gone and every earthly thing that I had in it was gone with it.”


She says (referring to the rose made of dollars that she brought with her), “I found this rose laying inside my front door, blackened and disgusting from the flood waters. My mom had given me the rose for my birthday. My brother warned me not to touch it. But I took it because I saw the value and the lesson in it. It will always remind me that you can be ugly and still have value. The petals are still legal tender and have not lost value because they went through a disaster. Your life can be ugly and still have a purpose. All is never lost. There is always hope.”


Williams, who wrote a book about her experience titled, “The Birthday Rose — What Katrina could not destroy ...” says she is doing better now and feels very settled in her home in Nicholson and community.


“All of us have been moved around and settled places; some of us have healed while others are still dealing with fraudulent contractors and higher home taxes because of the flood.


“People always ask me, ‘Are you a hurricane survivor?’ So I tell them ‘No! I am a hurricane overcomer. If I were just a survivor that would mean that I was back on my feet and ready for the next one; but I am here to tell you that I practice F.I.D.O. which stands for Forget It and Drive On! Through Jesus I am an overcomer!”


Williams has embraced some big differences coming from “a big city and huge church to small town and small church with different racial demographics.”


She says, “What I perceived to be Mississippi and what I have experienced in Mississippi are two very different things. I didn’t think that the community would be so warm and welcoming. I love nothing more than meeting people up at Treasures. There are no friendlier people around.”


Williams continues to build her ministry out-reach for children by writing her third book in the “Effie and his Encouraging F-words” series; launching her first DVD called “Ms. Chocolate: For Real” in its second production and staying active in her church. She attends First Baptist Church in Picayune where she sings in the choir, and teaches 5th and 6th- graders.


“They love my stories and can probably tell them now better than I can! I love it when they see me out and they call out to me, ‘Hey Chocolate!’ Everyone just looks like ‘What did those kids just call you?!’”


Williams is known for her humor and big smiles, but you can see the hurt in her expression when she speaks about local children who go to bed hungry.


“The hurt in my heart is for those children. I don’t see how someone can support children in other countries while the ones in their own back yard have no food. We have got to get the message out that these children need our help; they do not have uniforms for school and are not eating like they should.


“But this issue really goes deeper than that,” she says, “we have got to reach these babies that are out there having babies. These children grow up in survival mode and this is all they know. We have got to reach them before they start having babies and teach them that abstinence is a better way. We must help them do better than this.”


Williams says her next step in her ministry is to put her “Effie” character in costume take her act into schools.


She says, “I’m not an entertainer; I’m an inspirational story-teller. I’m not a survivor; I’m an overcomer. God has blessed me and opened many doors for me. He has brought me here and I feel that by the grace of God, I am in the group that has healed since Hurricane Katrina.”

A Call to COMMUNITY

by Dawn Bechtel

As a young child I attended a Christian School from 1st-9th grade.  Even though I went to a Christian School and church every Sunday, I never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ until I was saved by Jesus' love and grace in November of 1994.  In March of 1995 I was baptized and my life changed forever!
I was like a 'burning bush' for the Lord.  Wherever I went and whomever I spoke to, I spoke about Jesus.  I loved people so much that I couldn't wait to tell them about how Jesus' love and forgiveness had changed my life and how He could change theirs.  I kept telling the Lord, "Here I am; send me!"

One day my nephew invited me to go minister with him on a street outreach in New Orleans.  At first I was a little hesitant, but I felt such a stirring and nudging at my heart that I couldn't wait to go!  On Saturday morning we headed to New Orleans East to minister to the needs of children and families in a broken down neighborhood.
Several groups of people from Andy's church followed us as we drove into the neighborhood where we were going to minister. As we were pulling up to the location, a truck driven by one of the church family members pulled up and unloaded tarps, a sound system and food.  His church family quickly broke up into several teams.  One group started getting games together for the kids to play.  Another team was preparing food and the other team headed out to knock on doors to get the families to come to where we were located.
Over 100 kids and parents came out.  As I watched the street outreach, I saw the hunger, pain and brokenness of people who did not know Jesus.  They had no hope!  What they needed was Jesus in their lives.  My heart broke.  That day the Holy Spirit began speaking to my heart about reaching out to the people in the community of Picayune.

Within a couple of months after that first outreach, I attended a training in Tampa, FL, where I was trained in street ministry.  Upon returning to Picayune, with the covering of my Pastor, I met with the Director of the Housing Authority and the Police Department and I shared what we wanted to do.  They directed us to the most needy areas of the city.
Over the next 4 1/2 years God did amazing things in our city.  He unified the hearts of the people in our church to reach the city for the Lord.  The Lord multiplied the street ministry from one to three locations.  We 'went to the highways and byways and compelled them to come in.' (Luke 14:23)  Jesus was exalted, people accepted the Lord and lives were changed.

The Lord opened doors for us to obtain free produce, food and snacks.  We were able to provide snacks, vegetables and other items to residents in the housing areas, trailer parks and throughout the city.  Many nights several of us went on 'midnight runs' to load food into a Suburban and then unload it in our storage garage where we would sort and bag food to be delivered to locations throughout the city.  We even went into dumpsters behind area grocery stores to get food for the needy!  Rain or shine, hot or cold we did it because of the love of people and the Lord.  Lives were changed; hope was restored -- the only Hope, Jesus Christ.

Throughout this time we began several community outreach ministries; clothes ministry, baby baskets to young unwed girls' babies, outreaches at The Pines and Convalescent Home, Thanksgiving baskets, a bus ministry, 'Back to School' bashes and a community Easter egg hunt.  The Lord continued to multiply.  His glory was revealed!

The Lord called us to go minister in Honduras to over 5,000 people in parks, hospitals, an orphanage and on the streets in the poorest areas of town.  People were healed and lives were changed forever for Jesus!

Over the past 17 years the Lord has used me in our community in ways I could never have dreamed or imagined.  Whether serving the youth at RLM, developing programs as Teen Director and Director of the Boys and Girls Club, coordinating after school and summer camps in multiple school districts, Teen Court Judge for Picayune, teaching Young Ladies of Virtue and overseeing outreach projects in our community, God never ceases to amaze me that He could use 'this foolish thing of the world, to confound the wise.'  (Ninth Ward Girl, you know!)

To be used by God takes a humble spirit and a willing heart.  I am truly humbled to know that the Lord is continuing to grow and trust me with some of His work to be done here.  Giving myself selflessly to the Lord to serve His people is truly a privilege, blessing and honor that I do not take lightly.

One of my life's goals is for the Lord to use me to leave a 'Legacy' to the children and families of Picayune.  Knowing that my life was spent selflessly to love and serve His people and to exalt Him is what I am here for -- to help people see that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, that He has a plan and purpose for each one of us, and that everyone is valuable in His eyes.  Only by accepting Him as Lord and Savior will their lives change and restoration take place. 

When I meet Him face to face, I pray I hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  And when I do, I know that I will have fulfilled my purpose and call to His people of this community.
Posted from Life Signs Magazine July-September 2011 with permission

GREATER THINGS

By: Wendy Mims

I have heard it said that nothing good comes out of Picayune, MS., that it is just a small & insignificant town with a high teen pregnancy rate and a hub for drugs.  Well, I beg to differ...

A while back I had the privilege of listening to a dear friend in her very first radio interview promoting the publishing of her 1st devotional book for women.  As I listened to her talk about the journey that led to the fruition of the book I couldn't help but think of times that we had experienced.  I began to think about where she had come from, where she was and where she was going!  As I continued to listen my heart became overwhelmed with pride and love and I was honored to call her my friend.  I started to think about my own life and where I had come from and I began to think of all the amazing women that I am surrounded by every day, my inner circle, the ones I call my 'Godfriends'!  I thought about each friend and the journey they have traveled.  Where they had come from, where they are now and where the Lord is taking them and my heart became filled with joy and I thought... "Who ever said Picayune is insignificant?  Great things are coming out of Picayune"!

So who are the Great Women of today?  Where have we come from and where are we going?

We are 'Our Father's Daughters', we are the lineage of the Mothers of Old, and we glean of the wisdom gained from each one.  Wisdom such as that of Hannah, the 'Barren Woman', Naomi, the 'Widow', Ruth, the 'Faithful Servant', Esther, the 'Chosen Queen' and even the wisdom to be gained from the lives of Gomer, the 'Harlot' and Rahab, 'Prostitute'.  They were mothers, sisters, daughters and friends.  Like us, they experienced times of grief & sorrow, shame, insecurity, heartache and rejection.  Just like us they dwelt in Egypt for a time, they had a Jordan to cross over and a promised land to inherit.  Each one had a story to tell, wisdom to offer and each one played a strategic role in the lineage of Jesus Christ and of us.  We are following in the footsteps of an army of Warrior Brides who have gone before us and left their mark on the pages of history.

What could take a young woman having been abused or neglected by men who vowed to love her, from a place of brokenness into a place of wholeness?  What could take a broken heart that once grieved so bad the pain of living seemed unbearable and turn it into a place where healing waters have made joy and laughter its song?  And what could take a mind filled with questions and doubts, fears and uncertainty and make it a place where God's Grace has become its Anthem...NOTHING BUT THE HEALING HAND OF A MIGHTY GOD HAS DONE THIS!!!...these are the places from which we've come, they are our Egypt, our Crossing over the Jordan and they have lead us into our Promised Land.  It is a Beautiful land flowing with springs of joy and laughter and a place where the cry of brokenness has become our captivating dance of redemption ...and the best is yet to come!!!

Yes, I'd say..."Great things are coming out of Picayune"!!!

GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME, GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO BE DONE IN THIS CITY!!!

Posted with permission: taken from Life Signs Magazine Summer 2011 RLM

Cleansing Streams

Cleansing Streams

(c) Jennie Heberg

Thank You, Lord, for

This cleansing stream

Pouring over me!

Lord, I give my all

Into Your hands.

Thank You for Your

Cleansing streams.

I love You Lord

And look to You

To pour over me

Your cleansing streams

Over and over and over again!

Thank You, Lord for

Your cleansing stream!

Here in this house

You’ve filled the air

With Your Cleansing Stream!

The above just poured out of my spirit as I was worshipping during the final service of this year's Prophetic Conference at Resurrection Life.  I look forward to hearing the music to go along with it.  I usually sing to the Lord during worship and the words just flow.  I pray you'll enjoy this writing.



WHEN PRAYER becomes PERSONAL by Charles & Barbara Grantham

WHEN PRAYER BECOMES PERSONAL

By Charles and Barbara Grantham

As I begin my day I have a track to run on. “Father, I thank you for the love of God that prevails in my heart; because I come through the blood of Jesus; because I am crucified with Christ and filled with the Spirit of the living God. I ask you to fill me now. I thank you for the desire that is in my heart to walk in the law of the Spirit of Life that is in Christ Jesus in obedience – because the law of the Spirit of Life that is in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death – receiving the Grace of God as an intercessor and as a soul winner, wearing the whole armor of God in Jesus name.


As a result of this prayer my focus is no longer on me. You and I who are born again must dwell in the light. Once we have tasted and have an appreciation of the light, the contradictions are obvious and cause discomfort; rightly so?


I would like to share with you answered prayer. For quite some time I have noticed when praying with other people, words would come up out of my inner man calling for liberty. After going through the Cleansing Streams led by Bro. Carey, I recognized a light came on; my prayer has been answered. I have an appreciation in me; thanksgiving that the leadership of this RLM fellowship has emphasized and encouraged liberty of the individual to function in the Kingdom of God.


About 5∏ years ago Bro. Allen asked Bro. Dan to put together a prayer team to hear God. A dozen people participating in regular times to pray together formed the healing team. In an all night prayer meeting the Lord gave us an assignment to form the Gatekeepers. The Gatekeepers then formed the Watchman on the Wall. The New Year began with the Watchman in place. We are being flooded with dreams, visions, and revelations. To put it another way, the perfect law of Liberty is coming into effect right before our eyes. The perfecting of communication between God and man is taking place and we are in it. This is not an exclusive club. Stay tuned and be aware, the Holy Spirit is one fine recruiter.


There are no heroes here but we will honor our leadership to the point that they will be effective for the Glory of God. I can see it now: the RLM House of Prayer will become the instrument in the fulfilling of Jesus’ Prayer in the lives of many, ‘THAT THEY BE ONE.’


Bro. Dan has preached to our team for almost six years that we should not be “need oriented” people but that we should have a testimony of an over comer; that my God meets all my needs. So the simplicity here is recognizing and appreciating Almighty God’s perfect plan of Redemption and learning to function in the perfect law of Liberty. The perfecting of communication, that is to say, learning to hear the voice of God and responding in obedience is the way we are going to get it done.






Last year during the Week of Prayer and Fasting Mary Pitts came to our prayer booth in the sanctuary. She had been diagnosed with cancer. After praying for her she received healing in her body. Recently the last PET scan came back negative. Since then every time I see Mary she has a big smile on her face. She shared with me that she is so thankful that the Lord led her and her family to RLM. When you see a woman at church with a smile on her face that can’t be wiped off you will know it is Mary Pitts. Look what the Lord has done!


People who come to the healing room for prayer receive salvation as well as healing. About a month ago a couple brought their seven year old son, Warren, to the healing room for prayer because he was having his tonsils removed the next day. After we prayed for the operation I asked Warren if he had asked Jesus into his heart. He said, “No!” His mother said, “Do you want to right now?” He quickly answered, “Yes.” When he left the room he not only had been covered in prayer for the operation he had also received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. His mother shared with me that her prayer was answered: Warren went into the operating room with no fear. What a difference prayer can make!


For years the intercessors of RLM have prayed for a prayer room where intercession and prayer could be made without interference. The House of Prayer building is an answer to the intercessors’ prayers.


People are being saved, set free, and healed in Picayune and Pearl River County. Prayer is being made night and day by Gatekeepers, Watchman, and faithful Intercessors who have answered the call to prayer. No matter the situation Jesus is ready to hear and answer. You can’t tell me God doesn’t heal today.

Jesus is Lord over Picayune

and Pearl River County!