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Daughters of Zion
UPCI Ladies Ministries June 2010 |
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Daughters of Zion is made up of women worldwide, who meet on the first Monday of each month to pray focused prayer for the children of the local church community.
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Donna Myre | Thursdays, Turkey Dinners and Cupcakes
By Donna Myre
It was Thursday! My steps picked up, and I became anxious to get home. Now what could be so special about Thursday that would cause a ten-year-old to literally run the half-mile home from school? It was this: Mother bought groceries on Thursday morning and whenever I returned home from school, a rapturous aroma would greet me from the kitchen. Waiting for me would be a delicious hot turkey and dressing dinner (the kind you get in the plastic tray from the frozen food section of the supermarket) along with a mouth-watering Hostess chocolate cupcake! Of course, this feast could be washed down only with Dr. Pepper. At that time in my life, that particular meal was the ultimate in eating!
As I reflect upon my elementary school days, I remember very little about such thing as the outfits and shoes that I wore. However, there is something I do vividly recall: my mother was always home when I returned from school. She would attentively listen to my account of the day's happenings and ask questions about my activities, friends, and teachers. My part of the conversation was usually carried on between bites as I munched hungrily on the snack that had been prepared for me.
My mother's choice to be a stay-at-home mother has been one of the most influential factors in my life. Now that I have a family of my own and know how much money is required to operate a household, I realize my parents could have enjoyed more of the "finer things of life" had mom continued to work outside our home. They chose rather to do without the extras so she could stay home with my brother and me. Though our family did experience some financial restrictions which prohibited our purchasing a new vehicle every year, owning an expensive RV, or taking extravagant vacations, my life was rich in other areas. This enrichment came as a result of my parent emphasis on character development, academic achievement, helping others, and loving God. As the years have passed, I have come to appreciate my parents' priorities more and more.
Dad and Mom, thank you for pouring your energy into "training up a child" rather than striving for vast material accumulation. You all, Thursdays, turkey dinners and chocolate cupcakes will always be special!
Donna and Robert Myre have spent more than twent-five years pastoring in Paris, Texas. She is Texas District Ladies Ministries President and writer for Reflections "Celebrate" page. Donna has a degree in education and has taught high school. The Myres have two daughters who are married to ministers and six terrific grandchildren.
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Focused Prayer - Walk the Talk
Week 1 - Thoughts
· Lord, help us to take every thought captive and line it up with the Word of God.
· Change our negative thinking into positive thoughts.
· Convict us Lord when we are doing things we shouldn't be doing.
· Replace harmful input with wholesome material, especially Your Holy Word.
· Lord, give us strength not to be controlled by sin.
· Guide our thoughts and may we be led by Your Holy Spirit.
· Lord, we submit every thought to you, give us a Christ-like mind so that we can
Week 2 - Words
· Help us to use every opportunity we have to share the Good News with others.
· Remind us Lord that what comes out of our mouth reveals what is in our hearts.
· Enable us to put our words into action.
· Keep my mouth from speaking any evil or untrue word.
· Lord, may every word we speak reflect your purity, love, and kindness.
· Holy Spirit, give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say.
· Give us the courage to speak boldly of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Week 3 - Actions
· Lord, keep us from blending in with the world and accepting its values and lifestyles.
· Help us to live up to God's standard of morality.
· May our lives reflect God's power working in us.
· Teach us to worship You with our whole heart and reverence Your Holy Name.
· Help us to become doers of the Word, putting Your Word into action.
· Lord, we are Your servants, lead us and guide us in everything we do.
· Remove all selfishness from our hearts and fill us with a spirit of generosity.
Week 4 - Walk
· Implant in our hearts the desire to humble ourselves before You, Lord.
· Father, make us into mature, spiritually sensitive and doctrinally sound Christians.
· Lord, search my heart and try me and see if there is any wickedness in me.
· Help us to separate ourselves from anything that is not holy.
· Fill us with Your grace and power to walk in integrity.
· Encourage us Lord to make prayer a top priority in our lives.
· Allow our hearts to respond to God's call for us to seek His face.
-Brenda Hudson
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Donna Ten Eyke | Concert of a Lifetime!
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 4
Recently while visiting Santa Fe, I was entertaining my grandson, Ethan, "and suddenly there came a sound" not from heaven mind you; from my granddaughter's room; "a great noise and it filled all the house". It was not a "Draw Me Nearer" kind of moment; nevertheless, curiosity compelled me to investigate.
Poised like a rock star, eyes tightly closed, Elyssa electronic guitar slung over her shoulder, was hitting some unknown (fingernail sliding down a blackboard) octave, singing along with the Bible Quizzing CD in perfect harmony, well somewhat perfect! My daughter Kristina, Ethan and I, "were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another" how could one girl create such an ostentatious symphony of sound? In her own element, Elyssa was unaware of the speechless audience listening to her animated recital. My sweet granddaughter, singing at the top of her lungs, pounded out Acts 2:1-4 on a squealing guitar. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues,..."
It was, I'm sure, "a joyful noise unto the Lord". Never had a message been delivered so profoundly! Elyssa's own unique vivacious antics captured God's attention! A "Symphony of Word" secured an audience with the Ancient of Days and Elyssa became a trophy in heaven's showcase. God whispered, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children...." Weeping, my heart resounding with "May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.". Psalms 144:12
That day I witnessed more than an extraordinary musical drama, I attended the "Concert Of A Lifetime"!
Editors note: Donna Ten Eyck is Mississippi's Daughters of Zion Director and serves on the District Ladies Ministries Committee. Traveling nationally, Donna is an anointed speaker, whose passion is repairing the breech by promoting unity of prayer and loyalty to leadership. Donna is also the director of Stone County's Annual Back to School Prayer Rally, bringing community and schools together "for the sake of our children". She is the administrative assistant at Word Alive Revival Center in Wiggins, MS, where she works with Pastor Mike Dobbs and his wife Pam Dobbs. |
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| How to Establish a local Daughters of Zion Prayer Group
A. Visit the UPCI Ladies Ministries Website (www.ladiesministries.org)
- Memorize the Mission Statement
- Be familiar with the Goal of DOZ
- List the Three Prayer Priorities
- Read the Praise Reports and Creative Ideas
- Ask God to allow the burden for DOZ to be birthed
a) In You
b) In Your Pastor
c) In Your Congregation
d) In Your Community
B. Speak with your pastor
- Have a plan
- Share your burden
- It is vital to have his support and guidance
- Ask for permission to implement the DOZ prayer ministry
- Select a date to promote DOZ in your church
C. Schedule your first DOZ meeting (Pray, Plan, Prepare, Promote, Present and Praise)
- Pray for your Monthly Focus (Example: Salvation-Acts 2:39 or Isaiah 49:25)
- Plan your meeting (see resources available on DOZ web page)
- Prepare for your meeting by creating a flier (Who, What, When and Where)
- Promote the meeting with excitement (transfer your burden to others)
- Present; stay focused and be confident in what God will accomplish through your efforts
- Praise Reports, allow for a time of sharing and rejoicing
D. Follow-Up and Assistance
- Contact your State DOZ Coordinator (Ladies President has contact info)
- Register your new DOZ Group online (DOZ Webpage)
- Share Praise Reports and Creative Ideas online
- Do not let numbers keep you from having a DOZ meeting
- Continue to keep your meetings fresh and exciting
-Donna Ren Eyke
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From all Over
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm going to forward it to our Spanish Churches in our District because I know some of them are having DOZ prayer and fasting the first Monday of every month. Our Church has 13 daughter churches and some of them have DOZ prayer every Monday.
I love the DOZ newsletter. God is calling the mothers of Zion across the world to intercessory prayer for their children, husbands and loved ones...His coming is soon. He is about to pour out His later rain. -J joy
Many Thanks!!! I am glad to receive your Daughters of Zion e-mail, to read something born from within a Pentecostal heart! It satisfies and sharing it is the best! The Lord bless you, -Eugenia de Henriquez, Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Int. de Belice
Respectable Sister, the Lord Bless you. This magazine is very excellent, very interesting and now in Spanish, it is even better. A very good idea to write it in Spanish. May the Lord continue to use you to edify the spiritual lives of thousands of pentecostal Jesus name ladies. -All the way from Mexico, greetings and many blessings.
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Ladies Ministries Daughters of Zion Staff
Gwyn Oakes
LM President  |
Linda Gleason
LM Secretary  |
Wanda Fielder
Connections  |
Ruth Harvey
DOZ Director  |
Debbie Akers
DOZ Editor  |
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Honor to Whom Honor is Due...
In 1999Thetus Tenney shared an article about the Praying Mothers of Brazil with Gwyn Oakes who shared her burden with the National Ladies Committee. Ruth Harvey was chosen as director. Daughters of Zion was chosen from the titles submitted for the program. Debbie Akers joined as editor of the Daughters of Zion newsletter. |
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