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| Daughters of Zion July 2011 |
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Ladies Ministries of United Pentecostal Church International |
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 The Freedom to ChoseBy Pam Dobbs
Everyone wants freedom. Freedom: the ability to make choices: state of being free: liberty: power to do what you want to do. Our country was founded on freedoms.
In fact, freedom is so important we legislate laws to safeguard our country's liberties. Nations go to war in hopes of maintaining their sovereignty, societies argue to protect civic independence, while individuals fight for personal freedoms. To initiate war or cause a strike, just impinge on America's God given rights to "Freedom of Speech", Freedom of Religion" or "Freedom to Bear Arms"!
But what is real freedom? It is the "free will" choice in God's design; freedom to choose for oneself. Seems simple enough, right? Yet since the beginning, when God breathed life into His creation, man has struggled with this thing called "Freedom". Adam and Eve were blessed in paradise; however, desire for the forbidden and bad choices, resulted in irreversible damages. Paradise was lost, life was drastically different for Adam and Eve and their children suffered the consequences with them. How true it is, that the choices we make during this present life, will determine our final and eternal destination.
Joshua, the successor of Moses, knew better than most about choices and consequences. Out voted ten to two, his destiny was altered for over forty years. Although Joshua suffered the consequences of some very bad decisions, he knew God was faithful.
When the day came, he chose liberty; leading Israel to the Promised Land, Joshua helped them defeat the Canaanites. Now, because of God's blessing and power, they were living in walled cities and houses already built. They were harvesting gardens already planted and tending to livestock, they had not raised. They were literally surrounded with the blessings of right choices in serving the Lord.
Just before his death, Joshua reminded Israel of the blessings of choosing wisely and admonished them to continue to do so. He addressed the children of Israel with a very challenging statement, "Choose you this day, whom ye will serve." Joshua 25:15
Within the heart of every human is the liberty of "The Freedom to Choose". We must choose to answer Joshua's declaration of freedom with a resounding "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord".
After all choices made today may change the destiny of an entire generation!
Editors note: Pamela Dobbs and husband, Dr. Mike Dobbs, pastor of Word Alive Revival Center in Wiggins, MS. She is the mother of two children, Ashley and Adrian and grandmother of twin boys, Aidan and Jaron Dudeck. Pam is the Ladies President for the MS District Ladies Ministries.
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 The Freedom to Manage Your DreamBy Rose Phaeton
And the Shunammite woman saddled a donkey and told her servant, drive and go forward...2 Kings 4:24.
As visionaries, we do dream. To dream and to pursue a dream is God-given when we dream in line with our purpose. Nehemiah had a burden. David had a desire. Noah had a task. In pursuing those dreams, none of them could afford to have doubt or to be idle. They all had to "work the dream". They were people in motion. The Shunammite woman is no exception. When her dream died in her lap, she rose to manage the dream.
To manage is to "care for", to "give intention to". We must understand that God has granted us the freedom to work the dream that He has given us; the freedom to pursue what He has promised us. We must therefore, like Noah, believe in the dream against all odds. We must, like Nehemiah, seize the opportunity of every open door. And, like the Shunammite woman, we must be intentional at every step.
When the dream gets Monotonous, we must realize that the "daily grind", the "routine" has its place and purpose. We must not Allow our feelings to fade or doubt to enter in and cause us to stop believing in our dream. Though life for her household had fallen into the routine mode, she did not consider her dream-child a product of the natural occurrences of life. Her dream was God-given, therefore divine.
Negating the need to manage our dream will keep us in a vicious circle of indecision and apathy. Resignation follows. The dream is dead. In such a state, we cannot even recognize the Attack of the enemy as he tries to frustrate our purpose. It would have been so natural to accept the death of that child. But her trust in the promise received spoke louder than the reality at hand.
I can imagine her thinking: "I have watched this dream Grow. I will not accept this death. I will rise for I have the freedom to put Energy into what is rightfully mine. My dream will live again".
Then she pronounced "It is well". "Servant, drive and go forward..."She moved and took the freedom to work that dream, to manage the circumstances for she knows that lost resources are reclaimed by going forward, not backward...
Jesus has granted us FTO (freedom to operate) the dreams that He has given us. Go forward and take your God-given freedom.
BIO: Rose Phaėton is the Pennsylvania Ladies President and a licensed minister with the UPCI. She and her husband Daniel pastor "Covenant of Praise, UPC" in Norristown where the Word is shared in four languages to a multicultural congregation
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 The Good Ole DaysBy Bonnie Peacock
Once upon a time, families lived within hollering distance of each other. They sat on their front porches in the evening, talking, laughing, and greeting anyone who might mosey down the lane. Everyone knew everybody's business and a natural support group existed. Children knew they were loved, not just by mommy and daddy, but by aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. The elderly had a safe place of dignity to live out their declining years.
Today, society is disconnected. Family members may reside in different time zones. Texting, emails, and occasional visits have replaced the supper table. Chat rooms provide courtships and friendships.
It is easy to feel disenfranchised. Even in a church setting, one can feel isolated and invisible. How do we connect in today's fast-paced, high-tech society?
God cares about our finances, health, salvation and our feelings too. He wants us to have solid, healthy, positive relationships.
Much is said in the Word of God about with whom we spend our time. Our friends have a profound affect on us. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). We become like the people we are around.
Like every other area of our lives, we need to submit our relationships to God. "Lord, guide my steps. I want the friends You want me to have. I want to be influenced by people who are sold out and on fire for You. Protect me from those who will discourage me in my walk with You or lead me astray."
Asking God and trusting Him to arrange our relationships is wise. Only He knows the heart of man. He sees the future and has our best interest in mind. Our hearts are always safe when we trust them to Him!
BIO: Bonnie Peacock attends the First United Pentecostal Church in Odessa, Texas. Terry Pugh is her pastor. Along with Gwyn Oakes and Mary Loudermilk, she coauthored, Alive in Him. She publishes "First" Ladies and is a free lance contributor to various religious publications.
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Inspirational Quotes
Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. -Unknown
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Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer. -Ed Cole
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Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?-- Corrie Ten Boom
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When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy. -Corrie Ten Boom
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God's answers are wiser than our prayers. -Unknown
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Notice, we never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray! For prayer is a great deterrent. -Leonard Ravenhill |
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From the Mailbox
Thank you for the Daughters of Zion newsletter. It is a blessing to know that all across the world our mothers are praying. I believe that we will see the fruit of this prayer as our children grow and take the helm. -Orvada Churchill, AK-Yukon Ladies Ministries President
I love DOZ, the monthly newsletters are great! Keep up the good work. -Jane Cottrill, IN Ladies Ministries President |
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Thank you for your passion and burden for Daughters of Zion prayer. God is doing mighty things! If you have a praise report please send it to
Debbie Akers, DOZ Editor
Ladies Ministries Connections
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Missionary Regional Director for Europe/Middle East Region, Dianne Tuttle, Anna Magdas who translates the DOZ Newsletter into Dutch and Bea Pakaila proff reads Dutch translation and Kristi Moore who translates the DOZ Newsletter into Spanish |
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1999, World Network of Prayer Director, Thetus Tenney shared an interesting article with Gwyn Oakes about the Praying Mothers of Brazil. Sister Oakes had a burden for this type of ministry and Sister Tenny suggested it as a venture for the Ladies Division. The burden was shared with the National Ladies Committee. Ruth Harvey expressed a desire to work with the program and was chosen as director. From the many titles submitted Daughters of Zion was chosen. Debbie Akers joined as editor of the Daughters of Zion newsletter. | |
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Ladies Ministries
314-837-7304 X412 | |
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