Psalm 100:4 - "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

Psalm 107:1 - "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever."

Psalm 95:2 - "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Psalm 103:1 - "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

Ephesians 5:19-20 - "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving."

Psalm 63:3-4 - "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name."

Psalm 92:1-2 - "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night."

Psalm 116:17 - "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."

2 Corinthians 2:14 - "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place."

Revelation 4:11 - "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created."

The Bible contains several examples and teachings related to labor, work ethics, and the value of hard work. Here are some Biblical examples:

1. Creation and Work in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15): In the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve and instructed them to "work it and keep it." This demonstrates the idea that work is a fundamental part of human existence and that it predates the fall of humanity.
2. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30): In this parable, Jesus teaches about the importance of using one's talents and resources wisely. The master entrusts his servants with talents (a form of currency), and those who work diligently and multiply their talents are rewarded, while the one who buries his talent is rebuked.
3. The Apostle Paul's Work Ethic (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12): Paul encourages the Thessalonian Christians to lead a quiet life, mind their own business, and work with their hands. He emphasizes the value of hard work and not being dependent on others.
4. Proverbs on Diligence (Proverbs 10:4): The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom regarding work and diligence. Proverbs 10:4 states, "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."
5. The Example of Jesus as a Carpenter (Mark 6:3): Before beginning His public ministry, Jesus worked as a carpenter. This shows that even the Son of God engaged in manual labor and understood the importance of work.
6. Joseph's Work in Egypt (Genesis 39:1-6): Joseph, the son of Jacob, was sold into slavery in Egypt. He worked diligently and rose to a position of authority in Potiphar's house, demonstrating the importance of hard work and integrity.
7. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): While this parable primarily focuses on repentance and forgiveness, it also illustrates the contrast between the diligent and wasteful son. The older son stays and works faithfully on the family farm, while the younger son squanders his inheritance.
8. Ruth and Boaz (Book of Ruth): The book of Ruth tells the story of Ruth, a widow who gleans in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy landowner. Ruth's diligent work and her commitment to caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi, ultimately lead to her marriage to Boaz and her inclusion in the lineage of King David and Jesus.

These biblical examples and teachings emphasize the importance of honest labor, diligence, and the recognition that work is a way to glorify God and serve others.

Words of comfort from our Lord Jesus for those who labor  
Matthew 11:  28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

As of this post time there have been 93 confirmed deaths with the search changing from search and rescue to one of recovering the bodies of those who have lost their lives in the fire. Devastation has unfolded as a wildfire, fueled by winds roared through the once tranquil landscape. The fierce fire swiftly consumed everything in its path, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartache. Homes that once stood proudly against the backdrop of nature are reduced to ruins, and the tranquility of the island has been shattered as families have been forced to flee for their lives.
In the aftermath, the true extent of the tragedy has become painfully clear. The wildfire has claimed at least 93 lives, and rescue workers expect that there will be more deaths discovered in the coming hours and days. The loss of human life weighs heavily on the hearts of the survivors, as the community grapples with grief and the terrible void left by those who have perished.
As news spreads of the lives lost, we mourn the individuals who fell victim to the blaze. As a nation, we will support the families that have experienced the devestation of property, businesses, homes and most of all, loved ones with continued concern. 

Today, our prayer burden is dramatically increased as we think of those suffering in our sister state. 
​

1. Comfort and Healing: Pray especially for comfort and healing for those who have lost loved ones. Pray for those who have lost their homes and other important keepsakes and personal belongings,  Ask for strength to cope with the emotional and physical pain caused by this tragedy.
2. Courage and Resilience: Pray for the community's ability to remain strong and resilient
   in the face of adversity. Ask for courage to rebuild and recover from the devastation.
3. Emergency Responders: Pray for the safety and well-being of the firefighters, paramedics,police officers, and other emergency responders who are risking their lives as they continue their vital work.
4. Recovery and Rebuilding: Pray for the resources, guidance, and assistance needed for the community to rebuild homes, businesses, and infrastructure that were lost in the fire.
5. Mental and Emotional Healing: Pray for those who may be struggling with trauma, anxiety, or grief due to the wildfire. Pray for emotional strength and healing.
6. Hope: Pray for the ability to find hope amid the devastation.
7. Leaders and Decision-Makers: Pray for wisdom and guidance for community leaders
   and decision-makers as they navigate the recovery efforts and make important
   choices for the island's future.
8. Generosity and Assistance: Pray for those who are able to provide assistance,
   whether through donations, volunteering, or other means. Ask for an outpouring
   of generosity to help those in need.
9. Coping with Loss: Pray for those who are facing the loss of their livelihood and
   personal belongings as well as those who have lost homes and businesses. 

Happy Independance Day! The 4th of July serves as a reminder of the blessings and freedoms we enjoy as citizens of our nation, and as believers, we  also recognize the ultimate freedom we have found in Christ. Just as our founding fathers fought for liberty and justice, Jesus Christ fought for our freedom from sin and death, offering us eternal life and salvation.

As we wave our flags and celebrate with picnics and fireworks, we also remember to lift our hearts in gratitude to God for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon our land. On this day, we pray for our nation, its leaders, and its people, that we may continue to walk in the ways of righteousness and uphold the values that our nation was founded upon. May our celebrations be a time of unity, love, and thanksgiving, as we recognize that it is through the grace of God that we are able to enjoy the liberties we hold dear.

Happy 4th of July! May God continue to bless our nation and guide us in the path of righteousness as we strive to be a beacon of hope and freedom in the world.

The Lord put a specific word on my heart for 2023. It is the word "ACCELERATE". I believe that we will see a spiritual acceleration in the working of the Holy Spirit in our individual lives and in our country this year! Let us, therefore, ACCELERATE our own spiritual trajectory! Let us wait upon the Lord to renew our strength! Let us rise up with wings of eagles! Let us be in a prepared state to respond to the wind of the Spirit. 

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 KJV

As we enter this new year. Let us go through the days and weeks with the intent of personal and corporate acceleration in the Spirit! Throughout this month many of our church bodies will be calling for a fast in January. I believe we will see a dramatic push forward as we fast and pray! Also, we invite you to join us in March and October as American Prayer Force calls for our Group Daniel Fast if you can. 

God already has prepared His "going forth" upon the earth. Let us be prepared to move with the Holy Spirit as He moves upon The United States of America throughout his next year. Let us rise up with wings of eagles, in spiritual strength and power this year of 2023. 

In Hosea, we find this exciting verse. 
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3 KJV

My prayer is that He will find a willing and able army of prayer warriors who will be ready to respond in strength, according to His purposes as He moves across our great nation.

Happy 4th of July! 2022 Day of Independence

Hello American Prayer Warriors!

Father in Heaven, We come to you in the mighty name of Jesus. We pray for America today. We thank you for the opportunity that we have to express our love for our country on this special holiday.

We ask that you forgive our national sins. We, humble ourselves before you and repent for the grievous sins that we have committed. We turn our faces away from evil and we ask for your strength to fight evil at every opportunity. We ask You for courage to stand for what is righteous in your sight.

We speak your name over our nation and by faith we believe that your Kingdom can and will flourish among us as we continue to seek your face.
​
​Thank you for America! Thank you for our Freedoms! Thank you for your protection. We honor you and praise you for all you have done and all that you will do as we stay in obedience. Help us Lord where we are weak. Teach us to rely on your strength we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen

Dear Prayer Partners,
Today we are focusing on the State of Mississippi, one of the states that are located on the Gulf of Mexico.  Because of its location, Mississippi residents are often subjected to weather related disasters. Right now, even today, there are millions of residents that are still without power from Hurricane Ida. Besides the huge problem of trying to manage without power, thousands are experiencing property damage problems and other hardships because of the very recent hurricane. Today we all join together to pray for this state and everyone who lives there. We know that He loves and cares for each and every one of them!

Let's also lift up some of their cities by name to the Lord today! The largest cities include Jackson, 
Gulfport, and Southaven. Other large cities include Biloxi and Hattiesburg. 

We also remember all of the smaller cities, towns and villages. Please pray that churches will flourish and that the Gospel will find its way into every household. 

We remember to lift up the elected leaders of Mississippi to the Lord today! We pray for Governor Jonathon Tate Reeves and his advisors. We pray that God will give great wisdom to him in leading this state. Be with him and guide him in Jesus' name. We also pray for the senators and representatives of Mississippi in both the national congress and those that are in leadership in state decision making positions.

In closing, we want to ask God for the wind of the Spirit to sweep over America in revival. We ask today specifically for the State of Mississippi that the Spirit will move in a new way to bring many souls into the Kingdom of God and that the church there will be refreshed and renewed. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen

Thank you for praying with us today! God bless you! God Bless Mississippi! And God bless America!

​

Hello America!
Our Prayer for July 4th
Father in Heaven, We come to you in the mighty name of Jesus. We pray for our great nation today. We thank you for the opportunity that we have to express our love for America on this special holiday. We thank you for the sacrifices that were made during the founding years of this country and the continued sacrifices throughout the years since then to keep us strong and free.

We ask that you forgive our national sins. We, humble ourselves before you and repent for the grievous sins that we have committed. We turn our faces away from evil and we ask for your strength to fight evil at every opportunity. We ask that we will hear your voice concerning the individual and national activities that will result in the resisting of the great evils of our day. Please give us courage to stand for what is righteous in your sight.

We thank you for being with us this past year during the horrible COVID 19 crisis which held so much fear and so much sorrow for many of us. We pray that you will protect the people of our nation from further oppression and fear. We speak your name over our nation and by faith we do believe that your Kingdom will flourish during this time of recovery.

​Thank you for America! Thank you for our Freedoms! Thank you for your protection. We honor you and praise you for all you have done and all that you will do as we stay in obedience. Help us Lord where we are weak. Teach us to rely on your strength we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen

 When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

  See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts, Published 1707 

 
​

Here is a link to listen to Handels Messiah, "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" by the Tabernacle Choir 
Enjoy! Merry Christmas to Everyone! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9wS2J0GOs​

Hello Prayer Warriors! This week we have a rare opportunity to pray over the hearings of a potential Supreme Court Justice nominee.

We often pray for the high court regarding arguments and rulings as they take place. Each one of the rulings are of extreme importance to us and our way of life.  

During this week we have the aditional opportunity to pray regarding the potential confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court judicial bench. This is the time for us to pray for the decision making that is taking place right now .
​

​Father, we, as the American people approach your throne this week asking you to guide these hearings in a way that would honor you as the Supreme Justice over our world. We pray that the Senators and President and all others who are involved in this selection process would seek you for your wisdom and guidance. We ask for each individual person to hear your voice throughout this process. We pray for Amy Coney Barrett. We pray that she would have wisdom and that she would be able to state her case so that it is clearly understood by all so that an informed decision can be made. 

We ask that you would sovereignly be in control of every act and conversation that takes place. We come against any distractions, lies, or deceptions that would try to distort the hearings into any false representation of you or your people. We ask that you would supernaturally lead us as a nation in this decision because of its importance to our current and future democracy.

We acknowledge that yours is the Kingdom, the Glory and the Honor forever! In Jesus Name. Amen.

Celebrating Easter this year is so very important! This year we are in a much different place than we have ever been in our lifetimes. Though Easter is being celebrated differently, it is an opportunity for us to pray that the resurrection power of God will rise up in us as we fight (in the Spirit) against the invisible enemy of COVID 19.

I encourage you to spend some time today experiencing a new level of prayer. As you pray for our nation and for the sick and dying among us, allow the Spirit of God that dwells in you to quicken you in an unusual way while you are praying.  Allow the Spirit of God to expand your prayer life today. As a church we can experience great and mighty things as we spend time  pressing in to the Word of God and into an expanded prayer life!

As we dwell on thoughts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us lay aside the things that so easily beset us. Let us spend time with God in a powerful new way.

If you are in one of the "hot zones", or if you are actually ill from the COVID 19 virus, please know that the prayer warriors from all 50 states are holding you up in prayer. We are praying for your protection from the virus and for your recovery if you are experiencing symptoms or have a positive diagnosis. Please let us know by email if you have specific needs in this area. We will not release your email information, but with permission, we will place your name or name substitute on our office prayer wall. 

Shared this prayer from a post by Christian Church in Painted Post, NY

Campaign Goal:
Praying for the United States of America, one state at a time! Every state has its own story.
The Christian believers in every state look forward to the times that prayer warriors from all 50 states join together in focused prayer for their state.



Today we will pray for the great state of Arkansas! This state is the home of 3.014 million people! Let's lift them up to the Lord today! Some of their biggest cities include Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Springdale. The capital city is Little Rock. Let's lift these cities (and any others) up to the Lord today! I encourage you to look at a map while praying for this state and pray for the different cities by name. Let's remember all of the smaller cities, towns and villages and the people who live there. As we pray, let's ask the Lord to move in those places by His Spirit and that the name of Jesus would be lifted up in each territory.

Also, let's remember to pray for Governor Asa Hutchinson, and the many other leaders that have positions of authority in Arkansas. We also want to pray for those who represent the state in the United States Congress.

We pray for the Christian believers in Arkansas. We pray that God will strengthen them and give them spiritual insight as they are representing Jesus Christ day by day in their own state. We pray for church leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and all other believers who are dedicated to reaching the lost in Arkansas.

FOR EVERYONE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE: Please take a few minutes today or tomorrow to look up this state on a map and pray for Arkansas. This can be done within your daily personal prayer time or anytime that you can spend a few minutes in focused prayer. I believe that our prayers are effective and they make a difference.

Thank you for taking this prayer assignment to heart and praying with us today! God bless you! God Bless Arkansas!  God bless America!

Memorize for 2020: Four Focus Verses
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

 Hello Prayer Warriors!
We are continuing our Prayer Campaign for the United States of America!!! Let's continue to cry out to God for our great country! Today we will be lifting up the state of Florida to the Lord in prayer!!!

ALERT from the Weather Channel: Hurricane Dorian is now a Category 2 hurricane and is forecast to intensify into a powerful Category 4, posing a major danger to Florida and the southeastern United States over Labor Day weekend. It is important for us to pray for the safety of emergency responders and for the residents that may find themselves in danger during the next few days.

​Florida is home to over 21 million people. Let's lift these people up to the Lord in prayer today. He loves and cares for each and every one of them! Let's also lift up some of their cities by name to the Lord today! Some of their largest cities include: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando and St. Petersburg. There are many, many other large cities that are too numerous to list . Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. Let's also remember all of the smaller cities, towns and villages. Please pray that churches will flourish and that the Gospel will find it's way into every household.

 Let's also lift up the leaders of Florida to the Lord today! 
You can also click on the links below to see the names of the Florida Representatives and Senators. We can pray  for them by name too! Thank you for praying with us today! God bless you! God Bless Florida! And God bless America!

Information on Florida Leadership 
https://www.house.gov/representatives#state-Florida
https://www.flsenate.gov › Senators
​

Louisiana is in a State of Emergency.
Today when I was writing this post, I felt a stirring of the Holy Spirit as I began to gather information about Loisiana for our state-by-state prayer post.

I often spend time praying as I am writing these posts for the individual states. In response to the alert in the Spirit, I began to search for news about Louisiana to see if there was something specific that I should be praying about.
Immediately, I read that Louisiana is in a State of Emergency because of severe storms and flooding. I decided to post this now, so that we all can be praying today for this situation and the families and businesses that are being hit hard wth this disaster. I will post the state information later, but I want to ask all of us, as a national prayer team, to focus on this situation as we are going through our prayer time. 

Note: East Texas is also suffering in this storm emergency.  
God bless each one of you that take these blogs to heart and pray didligently for these individul states.