|
|
|
Daughters of Zion
Newsletter |
|
|
|
| Ladies Ministries of the United Pentecostal Church Intl. | January 2011 |
|
|
|
|
Daughters of Zion are committed to the spiritual preservation of this generation
and beyond and the spiritual restoration of previous generations. |
|
|
A Fresh Start
By Brenda Hudson
As I am sitting on the veranda of the St Andrews Church guest house in Israel, overlooking the western wall and David's citadel, I am reminded once again of what is about to take place in our lives and it encourages me to make a "A Fresh Start".
In the day and hour we are living in we can be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the world around us and forget so easily the most important thing in our life, prayer.
As we start a new year let's focus on the following matters:
According to Matthew, 6:6 prayer should not be a show in our life. When you pray go away by yourself, close the door, pray to the Father secretly, and He will reward you openly.
Luke 18:9-14 instructs us to pray with an attitude of humility. It is the humble that will be honored and the proud will be humbled.
James 1:6, gives us clear direction that when we ask Him expect Him to answer for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is tossed and driven by the wind.
Let's make sure according to James 4:3 when we pray we have the right motives, we are not asking for our own pleasure, but for the kingdom and will of God for our lives. What we want and what God wants for us is sometimes not on the same page. Let us totally commit our motives to Him.
Ephesians 6:18 admonishes us to pray all the time. Let us pray all the time and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Ghost. It is obvious that we can't always be on our knees in prayer, but we can pray on our way to work in the car, standing in the grocery line, washing dishes, clothes, stealing away at lunchtime on the job. In any situation, you can keep a presence of prayer in your life. This type of praying doesn't take the place of getting alone with God but we can be in a spirit of prayer always.
So what do you say, let's commit to a fresh start of prayer this year in our life. Give God the first fruits and He will multiply the efforts.
Editors note: Brenda Hudson is married to Pastor David M. Hudson of Riverside Apostolic Church, Morgantown, WV. Mother of 2 sons Nathaniel and Derek Grandmother of 3 Chandler, Emma, Gauge. She is West Virginia District Ladies President and Ladies Ministries Northeast Regional Director |
How do I Get to the Treasure?
By Jane Schumacher
Going to mygrandparent's home was always exciting for me. It was a long drive and only happened once or twice a year. But you see they owned a store with a penny candy counter!
My grandparents collected many interesting objects over the years, which she displayed throughout their home. I knew not to touch them and Grandma had a story for each one. Some were brought from Germany with her parents. Some were gifts Grandpa had bought her and others were teaching aids she used as a country schoolteacher.
When my grandparents died, I received one of those special teaching tools. A set of three small hand carved figurines. Three monkeys: 'See no Evil', 'Hear no Evil' and 'Speak no Evil'. Grandma said, "Remember the monkeys 'See no Evil' and 'Hear no Evil' always fine up first. Then it is easier to speak no evil!"
Eph 4:31-32 says, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
As Christian women, we normally can keep our thoughts and tongues in check and pray about situations that seem unfair or misunderstood. However, sometime something within us drives us to find out details...and pass them on. Most should only be passed on to Jesus or taken to the prayer closet.
The greatest trials you will have are, when like Jesus, you've been, "beaten, kicked, lied about and disgraced" and your hands are totally clean! Can I put away all bitterness, anger and evil speaking? Can I forgive others as God forgave me?
Next time something evil wants to pop out of your mouth, do what I do. ..I think of my monkey with both hands clasped over his mouth. You see, I knew that if I was good and followed the rules while visiting Grandma I would go home with a big bag of penny candy from their store. How much greater the treasures Jesus has in store for us if we do what He wants us to do.
MATTHEW 6:26: But lay up for yourselves treasurer in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Editors note: Jane Schumacher and husband, James, have pastored for over twenty years in Racine. They have one son, one daughter, and two wonderful grandchildren. She has worked with LM since 1969, as sectional leader,district secretary, and district president since 2004. Jane and her husband have owned a retail business and insurance agencies which prepared her for leadership, organization, accounting, and secretarial duties.
|
|
The Person Behind the Sign
By Lois Mitchell
Standing on the corner of a busy intersection by I-10 in Pensacola, Florida stood a young lady of about sixteen. She had joined a group of panhandlers displaying signs that proclaimed "Will Work for Food", "Homeless and Hungry...Anything Helps", and "Hungry..God Bless You". These signs have gotten so common that I usually do not pay them much attention. Hers, however, startled and disturbed me.
Dressed in fatigues and a tee shirt was a brown haired, pierced, dirty, and non-smiling teenager declaring to all who passed by, "Homeless, Hungry, and Ugly". The first two words didn't really stir me. The word "ugly" slammed me! What had happened in her short life to make her feel that she was ugly? Had some abusive individual told her she was ugly? Had family or friends shunned her or accused her of something that had left her emotionally wounded and scarred? Did anyone even care enough to want to know where she was? How many feel just as she felt because someone or some incident in life has destroyed their self-esteem and self worth? It would be mind staggering to know an exact count of all who feel that they are worthless and ugly. The inner wounds and pain that so very many suffer are hidden beneath anger, attitude, and shame. What we sometimes label as not caring or arrogance is in reality a heart crying out for love, understanding, and deliverance from that voice that accuses and abuses. There are those who crave to hear that they are valuable and beautiful in the eyes of the Creator and creation. They long to hear that someone loves them without condition or terms. Hope lies suppressed beneath fear and doubt, and the cry for deliverance often goes unheard. The challenge of today is to pray the prayer that will send the message of hope and deliverance to those that find themselves in this entanglement. We have the answer through Jesus Christ that will turn the ugly of their life into a beautiful child of the King. Can the daughters of Zion travail one more time for the person behind the sign? Editors note: Sis. Mitchell's husband, Rev. Jimmy Mitchell, pastors Brentwood United Pentecostal Church in Pensacola, She is a Licensed Practical Nurse since 1973, and works part-time with Alzheimer and Dementia clients. Several articles she has written have been published in UPCI periodicals and magazines and she has spoke at ladies meetings locally and abroad. She has served 16 years on the Florida District Ladies Ministries Committee.
|
|
|
Prayer Quotes
"There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying"
-Unknown
"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer"
-John Bunyan
|
|
Praise Report
In 2010 the Daughters of Zion of Family Worship Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado, met faithfully to pray for the children of our church and community. We saw great revival break out among our children and as we come to a close of 2010, 13 have been baptized and 12 have received the Holy Ghost between the ages of 5-12 years of age. We look forward to answered prayer in 2011! -Debbie Cantu, LM President of CO
DOZ Prayer Meeting Ideas
The Blessing Tree, In our January DOZ we will start a Blessing Tree which we will have for the entire year. It may be free standing, on canvas or posterboard. Make 2 sets of leaves with each families name including each member of the family. During DOZ meeting each lady takes one family and hangs one leaf on the tree and keeps the other to take home or to use as a Bible book mark as a reminder to pray for that family. This is a wonderful way to stay in touch with our families and not only pray for them but to send thinking-of-you cards and notes of encouragement. Rosemary Gain,DOZ Prayer Coordinator, The Lighthouse Church, AJ, AZ |
From the Mailbox
I would like to sign up for the DOZ newsletter, and also sign up my DOZ prayer group leader to receive them as well. We are very excited about what God is doing in reaching those we love! Thank you and God bless you for the work you do! -Wendy L. White, Ladies Ministries Coordinator, Apostolic Lighthouse, UPC, Farmington, MO, Pastor Nathaniel Molter |
|
 January 2-31, 2011
World Network of Prayer. Visit WNOP.org to download Prayer Guides and PowerPoint presentation.
|
|
|
|
 |
FEATURED ITEM:
This book was created for girls ages 12-18, and it defines success through the Word of God, not the preconceived ideas of the world. It has five lessons that can be used as a personal devotional or as a group study. ............................................................................................................$4.95
| | PentecostalPublishing.com |
|
|
|
