With my whole heart

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

(Info from: Psalm 111:1-10 KJV)

Filled with the Knowledge

"Filled with the Knowledge of His Will."

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

Pray that We Might be Filled with the Knowledge of God's Will. 

It is God’s will for us to pray for God’s people that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will for all areas of our lives and in His kingdom; praying that we be filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The Lord, as our teacher, desires to teach us all things. He loves it when His people want to have His mind, goals, and truth. Pray for our leaders on all levels that they may know and walk in the knowledge of God's will in all the areas in which they have authority. Pray that the children of God no longer walk in darkness but have clarity of wisdom and spiritual understanding. Pray that the children of God will no longer follow their own will, but will earnestly seek after the perfect will of God for their lives instead. 

Pray We Walk Worthy of the Lord unto All.

It is God's will that we are pleasing to Him, fruitful, and continually increasing our knowledge of Him. He desires for us to know Him so that we may please Him and become fruitful in our lives toward Him. Pray that we may walk worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pray We are Strengthened with Might According to His Power. 

God wants us to walk in His glorious power, displaying the wonderous works He did on Calvary and in His resurrection. He wants to display His power in our lives as we are dead to sin and walk as new creatures in Christ. Jesus’ quickening power wants to reveal itself through the children of God. While this world is seeking for strength in many areas, God wants to show His strength through us. We must not fear weakness, for it is in our weakness that God's strength is revealed. Pray that the children of God’s light will shine so that they will draw all men out of the darkness and into the light of His strength, glory, and goodness, displaying to all what God can do in a life surrendered to Him. 

Give Thanks and Praise.

As a conduit for Christ all knowledge, strength, fruitfulness, and increase can flow from the 

heavenly places into and through our lives. He knows all, He has done all, and He can do all. We don't need to produce something miraculous. We just need to allow Him to flow through us. Prayer sets us in the proper alignment to do just that, giving praise and thanks that we are partakers of the glorious inheritance and illuminating light!

Deborah Smith
District Prayer Coordinator
South Texas District
(Info from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com) 

Trusting in the Lord can be difficult

"Trusting in the Lord"

Trusting in the Lord can be difficult with all the struggles that life brings. It can be hard to believe that God cares about us and sees where we are. However, we can have peace knowing that our Lord loves us, cares about us, and desires for us to be happy. Therefore, when we are called, we can have peace and comfort, knowing that His will is the best thing for our lives. He will not give you a calling and then leave you, rather the Lord will help you every step of the way. 

When you are worried about the future or struggling to trust in the Lord, pray:

    Lord, help me to see myself the way you see me and assure me of my calling.
    Give me strength and comfort through my situation and help me to know that you are always there.
    In the good times and the bad, help me to remember to give my problems and situations over to God.
    Lord, I thank you for the calling you have placed on my life and for always making a way for me.

Sarah Smith
Guest Writer
Info from: Prayer Connect Newsletter - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com

Do I wait and watch for the Lord

Waiting by Caitlin Walker

“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)

We often associate night with trials, and darkness with struggle and rough seasons of life. I don’t know about you, but I certainly do not enjoy harsh seasons. Rather I see them as something I need to suffer through and claw my way out of, barely surviving.
    

The above scripture in the New Living Translation says, “I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.” A sentry is a soldier who stands guard all night to watch for enemy attacks, fires, unauthorized people, etc. They are members of the first line of defense, and their main goal is to signal to the people they are protecting that danger isn’t too far off.

Imagine a soldier standing at the ready with drowsy eyelids, forcing himself to stay awake. The people’s very survival depends on this man watching the horizon all night. I would be terrible at night shifts, so I can only imagine how hard the job would be and the tremendous pressure. I can hear the sigh of relief when the first ray of sunshine peeks over the horizon.

I have to ask myself: do I wait and watch for the Lord as these men did? Am I anticipating His arrival, anxiously awaiting to see miracles, signs, and wonders? Do I see deliverance off in the distance, or am I consumed with frustration because I can’t seem to see Him working?

Lift your eyes today! Just as the sentries watch for the sunrise, wait and watch for the Lord. He will show up, He will work it out, and He is coming back for His people! Keep hoping, believing, and praying. He is always on time.

(Information from: Pure Ministry - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesconnections-upci.org@shared1.ccsend.com) 

If the Lord Will

I recently received a Text Message from someone who dreamed twice that I was seen in the Dreams. But I passed away both times in the Dreams. Unpleasant but true - the person did in fact sent me the text about those Dreams in May 2024.

Then I remember that the Bible mentioned at: The days of our years are threescore years and ten... Psalm 90:10 KJV. And it also says For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that James 4:15 KJV.

I told the person who sent me the text about the Dreams that I am in good health. So hopefully in that continues I will get at least 70 years of life. And I read Psalm 91 KJV as well. So hopefully God will continue to take good care of me.

Lots of people I know have stopped believing in God: Jesus and the Bible. I do not believe in once saved always saved. I believe that if someone stops obeying God and discontinues the keeping of his Commandments over a long person of time, without repenting, then that person becomes a Backslider. That is a very unpleasant word but true. And read Proverbs 14:14, Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 2:20-22, and Luke 9:62 KJV.

I am a firm believer in restoring someone (without embarrassing the person) back into the Fellowship of Gods People. We will all make mistakes - some more serious than others. I wished one of my relatives had received (or should I say accepted) Salvation from God: Jesus before she passed away. God called many of us in my family and most have accepted. A few have not. But Salvation is a personal process with God so we just cannot judge about what went wrong or why a person refused to accept God: Jesus.

Therefore, if the Lord will I may get another chance to write again and post to this Website. Until then God: Jesus bless us all - in the Name of Jesus.

We live in a world that wants everything

"Waiting on the Lord" by Anne Johnston.
    

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

We live in a world that wants everything to happen immediately. We do not want to wait. The advertisements shout “Buy Now, Pay Later.” So many people are deep in credit card debt because they listened to this appeal. We no longer make meals from scratch but rely on frozen prepared foods that will heat quickly in the microwave.

How many times have you made a phone call asking for information or help and been put on hold? We all hate that message: “Your call is important to us, please stay on the line and someone will be with you shortly.” We usually hang up in frustration because we do not have time to wait.

In the Bible we have examples of people praying, asking God for an answer, and having to wait before they received what they needed. Abraham and Sarah waited for years for Isaac. Isaac and Rebekah were married for years before Jacob and Esau were born. Joseph served faithfully as he waited for God to fulfill his dreams.

As we pray for children who have wandered away from the Lord, we would like for them to return to the fold “today.” Often, we suggest ways to the Lord that He could reach them. When waiting seems hard, remember that the Lord has a perfect plan for us and them. He knows the future. We must never cease praying for their salvation, but we must leave the “where, how, and when” to Him.

I found this interesting quote about Isaiah 40:3l.

“At first sight, we should have expected that it would advance from walking to running, and so to flying. But that order is reversed. It is more difficult to walk than to mount! Every cyclist will tell you that the hardest task is to keep your cycle at a walking pace.”

God’s ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. It is not His will that any should perish. He loves that wayward son or daughter far more than you and I do. If you have earnestly sought the Lord and received a promise from Him, stand firm upon it and trust Him to work out the details. We do not know what tomorrow holds, but He does. Just keep walking and waiting.

Philippians 1:6 tells us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

( Information from: Ladies Prayer International Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com ) 
 

They that wait upon the Lord

"Wait on the Lord" by Kay Burgess.
    

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

In Spanish the word for “expect” and “wait” is the same—esperar. It means to wait with expectation and is synonymous with trust (confiar) and believe (creer).

We commonly say in English that a woman who is pregnant with a child is “expecting.” While we know that the miraculous work of creation taking place within her womb is somewhat out of her human control, a wise woman knows that she must be busy and responsible while waiting. She should be eating properly so that her child will be nourished. She should be preparing a nursery, clothing, and the many different items and changes necessary for the arrival of a new baby. What she should not be doing is just sitting around waiting nine months for her child to arrive without making the necessary preparations. 

We “wait” on the Lord, but with active expectation. We “wait” trustingly for Him to do His sovereign work in our children, but we must be busy while waiting! We must be about the business of nurturing, teaching, guiding, building, and “raising up” our children so that they are properly prepared and positioned for God´s plan in their lives. More than ever today, we cannot be found sitting around waiting helplessly for an outcome that is sure to disappoint if we have not invested the time and effort necessary for their salvation.

I see many women in the Bible who kept busy while waiting and therefore saw the miraculous results in their children. Jocabed gave birth secretly, kept him hidden, built an ark, and made a plan for young Moses all while knowing that her time with him was short. Yet her time with him was so effective that later he refused his royal heritage and chose rather to be known as a child of God.

Hannah prayed, got her answer from God, and returned to home to prepare for childbirth. She also took advantage of the short time she had with her son before returning him to the House of God – so much so that Samuel grew up to become the last judge and greatest prophet in Israel.

Even Mary, so young, was wise enough to actively seek out an older cousin who could understand her situation and give her godly counsel.

We mustn’t be guilty of trying to help God out with His sovereign part – think Sarah and Hagar – which will yield us disastrous results just as it did for Sarah. If God has promised, it will come to pass in His time and in His plan – without our human intervention in the process. But it does require our faithful and consistent walk with God and our conviction that He will do what He has promised.

So keep praying, believing, and working while you are waiting. Prepare the way for the promise that God has given you. Keep the home fires burning for the prodigal that will be returning. God is not slack concerning His promises, and it is His desire that our children be saved.

( Information from: Ladies Prayer International Newsletter - UPCI Ladies Ministries - ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com ) 

Add to your faith virtue

The Bible says
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall...

Scripture from: 2 Peter 1:1-10 KJV

Biblical Expressions of Worship

Do you know some of the Biblical Expressions of Worship?
"Biblical Expressions of Worship"
We pray together aloud because in the Bible we read, "They lifted up their voice to God with one accord" (Acts 4:24).
We lift our hands in praise because in the Bible we read, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord" (Psalm 134:2).

We sing with all our hearts because in the Bible we read, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:  make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise" (Psalm 98:4).

We play musical instruments because in the Bible we read, "And all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments" (2 Samuel 6:5).

We clap and shout unto God because in the Bible we read, "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1).

We dance before the LORD because in the Bible we read, "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance:  praise Him with stringed instruments and organs" (Psalm 150:4).

We testify publicly because in the Bible we read, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee" (Psalm 22:22).

We anoint with oil for divine healing because in the Bible we read, "Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14).

We allow the operation of the spiritual gifts because in the Bible we read, "When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation" (1 Corinthians 14:26).
(Information from: UPCI Oneness Apostolic Organization)

The Lord opened the mouth of the Ass

The Bible says...
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
From: Numbers 22:28-30 and read verses 1-41.

Rejoice

The Bible says...

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(From: Philippians 4:4-7 KJV)

I will bless the Lord at all times

The Bible says...

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(From: Psalm 34:1-8 KJV)

The Voice

The Voice of the Lord by Pastor Don Rogers .

“The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas. The Glory-God reigns as he thunders in the clouds. So powerful is his voice, so brilliant and bright—how majestic as he thunders over the great waters. His tympanic thunder topples the strongest of trees. His symphonic sound splinters the mighty forests. Now he moves Zion’s mountains by the might of his voice, shaking the snowy peaks with his earsplitting sound! The lightning-fire flashes, striking as he speaks. God reveals himself when he makes the fault lines quake, shaking deserts, speaking his voice. God’s mighty voice makes the deer to give birth. His thunderbolt-voice lays the forest bare. In his temple all fall before him with each one shouting, Glory, glory, the God of glory!” (Psalms 29:3-9 TPT).

We live in a time with many voices competing for our attention, but the voice of the Lord prevails over every other voice when we choose to intimately respond to Him, through love and faith, in His love.

The voice of the Lord may produce four major kinds of responses:

Stubborn response – Like Cain (sometimes we like what we are doing and we resist God and wrestle to obey His voice) Hiding response – Adam hid when he heard God’s voice (fear and shame can cause us to hide from God’s voice). His voice becomes a terror to us.

Resentful response – One may ask, “why won’t God let me do what I want? I just want to be happy. I should be free to do what I want.” These are people who have a shallow reverence for God’s Word, especially if they feel His will opposes their desires.

Welcoming response – One would have the words of eternal life and would be delighted to hear His voice. These are people who see God’s Word like a honeycomb. They place their carnal appetites under the subjection to the voice of God’s Word and His Spirit.

Do you have a welcoming spirit and attitude towards the voice of the Lord? Is the voice of the Lord stronger than the voice of your carnal appetite? Is the voice of the Lord stronger than the ambitions of your personal aspirations? Is the voice of the Lord stronger than the offenses that occur relationally in your life?

Can you discern God’s rehma (utterance) voice during this endtime? Are you driven by fear and the affirmation of humanity or by the voice and the affirmation of God? His voice brings finality and authority to the inner man. It produces strength and peace in the midst of chaos. It is the highest voice among all other raging voices. We find God’s voice by spending quality time with Him and listening attentively for it. His voice helps to discern the times that we live in and to guide us in all things!

Pastor Don Rogers, The Pentecostals of Wisconsin, WNOP North Central Regional Prayer Coordinator

Information from: Prayer Connect - World Network of Prayer - floshaw@wnop-upci.ccsend.com