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Our Treasure By Bonnie Peacock
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. 2 Cor. 4:7
Years ago, a family kept a large red bauble lying around their home. Someone had the bright idea of having a jeweler inspect the stone. It was quite a surprise when they were told it was a flawless ruby. Once it was cut and polished, its value was estimated at over one hundred thousand dollars!
Each of us would love to discover a jewel of great value, often forgetting the immense worth of the lives we touch. Each day we have the privilege and responsibility of polishing and shaping the jewels around us.
The children in our home-the kids at our church have limitless potential. Only God knows what they can and will accomplish.
We often fail to grasp the importance of these young lives. If we knew they would grow up to be someone important-make a scientific discovery, hold a political office, or become wealthy and famous-would we treat them differently?
A single life has amazing possibilities. Only eternity will reveal the far reaching impact of each child. God has placed gifts and abilities in every boy and girl. He designed a special plan for their lives. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).
When the Scripture declared, "I am come that they might have life, And that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10), that promise included toddlers, tykes, and teenagers.
While the world is our harvest, we cannot-we must not forget to take our families to heaven with us. Just imagine! Standing before God-but not alone. Beside us are our families and every member of our church. How rewarding!
We must not live carelessly. We cannot afford for one soul-a little one to be left behind. It is not enough that we know how to pray. We must also ensure that those who come after us enjoy a personal, intimate relationship with God too! |
Focused Prayer: Relationships
Week 1 - Our Relationship With God
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Impart in us fresh love for You.
- Compel believers to share the gospel with others in love.
- Draw us into a deeper place of earnestly pursuing You.
- Forgive us for making excuses for not obeying Your commands.
- Give us a fresh hunger for spiritual things.
- We deny ourselves and seek after Your will for our lives.
- Fill our hearts with love, surrender, and a desire to serve You.
Week 2 - Our Relationship With Our Family
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Husbands would truly love their wives as Christ loves the church.
- Wives would learn to love and honor their husbands in ways that will encourage, support, and build them up as head of the home.
- As parents, we will love our children and teach them Your ways.
- Teach children to love their parents with honor, respect, and obedience.
- Let the love in our homes reveal Christ to our community.
- Let love rule over all areas of discipline and instruction in our homes.
- Families that pray together, stay together; daily we commit to family prayer.
Week 3 - Our Relationship With Our Local Congregation
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Raise up men and women of integrity to higher places of spiritual authority throughout our city.
- We walk under the authority You have placed over us and we submit to their leadership.
- Allow Your love to permeate throughout Your church.
- Restore unity in our church where disunity has taken root.
- Let us all pursue Your vision for our church.
- Supply all the necessary finances and members to fulfill Your vision for our church.
- Lord, You inhabit the praises of Your people; fill our church with a spirit of worship and prayer.
Week 4 - Our Relationship With The Church In Our City
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Allow us to set aside non-essential differences that bring division toward followers of Christ.
- Increase a hunger for the Word of God and teach us to walk in Your wisdom and understanding.
- Pour out a fresh baptism of love and compassion among the saints of God.
- May we demonstrate the same amazing grace that we have received from You to those who have offended us.
- Remove from us any critical, judgmental spirits toward fellow Christians.
- We bind false doctrine and we release the Spirit of Truth to be preached in all churches.
- Let the church rise together as one in the Spirit through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Week 5 - Out Relationship With The World
In The Name Of Jesus Christ We Pray . . .
- Rebirth new and creative ways for the church to show the world genuine love.
- Allow Your love to overcome evil, cast out fear, and draw others to You.
- Fill us with a spirit of compassion for the lost and a desire to reach out to those who are lost.
- Bring liberty to all who hear the gospel of Truth.
- Give us a servant heart and may we demonstrate Christ to others in need.
- Put people in our path who need a touch from You.
- May the fruit of Your Spirit abound in our churches and permeate throughout our community.
-Brenda Hudson, Riverside Apostolic Church (Used by permission |
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Under QUICK SEARCH select 'all categories'. Type in DOZ
Teddy Bears,
My Mom Prays for Me or
My Grandma Prays for Me Sweet dreams for a child who has one of these bears to snuggle as they are reminded they are covered in prayer. These adorable (DOZ) cuddly bears come either for the grandmother of the mother. Buy one for each child. Teenagers love them too! 12 inches tall.
# 17754 Price: $10.95 |
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Gwyn Oakes
President
Linda Gleason
Secretary
Wanda Fielder
Connections
Ruth Harvey
DOZ Director
Debbie Akers
DOZ Coordinator and Editor
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Creative Prayer Ideas
Our church Christian Education Dept. has a combined Promotion and Back-to-School service. The names of all the students and school teachers of our church are typed on slips of paper and then handed out to the congregation who then pray each day during the school year for the name they received. Our ladies make prayer cloths and they are prayed over and anointed with oil by the ministers and then given to the students. They are instructed to place the prayer cloths in their back packs, purses, pillows or rooms and let
them be a reminder that God loves them and is watching over them and also that some one is praying for them.
-Betty Parkey, DOZ Leader, Cornerstone
Tabernacle, Poplar Bluff, MO
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For the month of August, we had a "Back to School" prayer and opened it up to the entire church body. We had about 75 children ranging from ages Pre-K thru College. We laid hands on each child. For our September prayer meeting, we are focusing our prayer on our PIM's children and our Primary SS class students and teachers. Blessings, --Karen SperdutiPhoenix Revival Center - Phoenix, AZ Tim McCary pastor
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Please include me on your email list for the DOZ newsletter. My pastor's wife just forwarded your latest issue to me. "It's Just Not Fair" by Wanda Fielder was very timely for a trial I'm going through now. I found the article to be very encouraging and uplifting. Thank you to Sis. Fielder!
-Mary Jo McConnell
Maryland Heights, MO
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Is there a way to receive last month's newsletter? I just recently subscribed and would love to read "Praying for Prodigals" and share it with our ladies. Thank you! -Melissa Wallace, LM Leader, 1st UPC, Independence, LA
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Would you please resend the article "Praying for Prodigals" I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance. -Sis Judy Scott
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I really enjoy sharing the (DOZ newsletter) with my ladies. It is so encouraging. God Bless. -Vickie Pollard
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I cannot adequately convey my delight upon receiving each monthly DOZ e-newsletter. I began forwarding this excellent resource to our ladies here in Micronesia (West). To God be the glory! - Kelley Dibble, Missionary
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