Joe & Becky Cruse

We trust your week is off to a great start. God is at work here at the ministry and we know He is faithful to complete that which He started! And if He is working here, we know He is at work in your life, your family, your ministry! These are exciting days.

We have just moved Austin City Academy to the new property and have closed the door on the rental property where we began. New opportunities are exciting and challenging. Pastor Joe spoke in the staff meeting this week about how opposition brings opportunity and though it can be painful when trials come, they are definitely for our good. Sometimes we don’t like to face opposition but let’s face it—we don’t grow without it. God has put many things in all of our hearts but great dreams don’t always come easy. Romans 5:3-5 says,

“3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”.

Church, as we pray together this week, we can pray with confidence knowing that God’s plan and purpose is being worked in all of us and that His plans are for our good, no matter what we might be facing in the natural. Romans 8:28-34 says,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”.

Church, it’s awesome to know that as we pray, Jesus Christ is praying for us! That’s powerful!

We are going to be praying the scriptures this week over areas of our lives that many of you have asked prayer for. We should always pray the Word of God—that way we are praying His perfect will.

1. wisdom and direction–

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Psa 49:3 “My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding”.

2. supernatural health and healing–

Proverbs 3:7-8 “Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones”.
Jeremiah 33:6 “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security”.
3. financial provision–

Psalm 144:13 “Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields.”

2 Cor 9:10 “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness”.

4. God’s protection–

Psa 91:14 “The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name”.

Psa 32:7 “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance”.

5. The blessing of the Lord—

Deut 28:8 “The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you”.

Prov 10:22 “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it”.

Friends, have a great week—don’t forget the Four12 Chili Cook-off and Dessert Auction this weekend following the Sunday service and join us for prayer this Wed @ 6:30 pm.

Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

Hello—I trust you are having a great week and that “it is well” with you! For those of you who were not with us Sunday, Ps Joe began a new series on “A Winning Attitude” and my goodness—IT WAS POWERFUL! I encourage all of you to download the podcast and get ready to be blessed! The anointing was so powerful on the Word of God that came forth! To God be the Glory!

Regarding our prayer time this week, let’s look at the following passage of scripture from Philippians 1:4-11–

“4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

“I always pray with joy” is a faith declaration like none other! Paul understood joy in a much different way than you or I. He spent many days in a Roman jail where I’m sure, his natural surroundings were less than adequate. And yet, he found joy. Joy is different than happiness. Happiness tends to be dictated by conditions while joy is a decision of the heart.

“Because of your partnership in the gospel” – the Greek translation here is the word “Koinonia”–a having in common (koinos), partnership, fellowship”. Also, “a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship”. Paul was obviously grateful for their commitment spiritually and financially and encouraged them to follow through with their complete devotion to Christ. Paul’s apparent affection for the church at Philippi was more than just a casual relationship. His love toward them is apparent as he closes the prayer in verses 9-11 with four distinct requests:

1. He prayed that their love would abound through knowledge and insight
2. He prayed for a spirit of discernment that would carry them “until the day of Christ”
3. He prayed that their lives would be filled with the fruit of righteousness
4. He prayed that their lives would bring glory and praise to God.

As we get to know our Lord through prayer and intimacy, may our love for Him and for others grow stronger every day.

I don’t know about you, but I need discernment more today than ever before. Let’s ask God for a spirit of wisdom and understanding that we might know what the hope of His calling is for us who believe.

In studying the phrase, “fruit of righteousness”, we find it has to do with peace. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. James 3:18 says, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Church, in these troubled times, we need our lives filled with peace. It is easy to get fearful over many things. Let’s ask God to fill us with the “peace that passes all understanding”.

And last but not least, we want our lives to bring glory and praise to God. After all He has done for us, we should live in such a way that God’s glory would be revealed to a lost and dying world through us.

I certainly hope you can join us this week for our Recharge service, Wed @ 6:30 pm as we pray over these areas of our lives. Remember this—prayer doesn’t change God—prayer changes us!

Hey—have an awesome week! We hope you will join us this Sunday and bring some folks with you to the house of the Lord.

Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

How are you today? I trust all is well!! I must apologize for not sending our prayer directive out last week. Ps Joe and I were in Florida and returned on the weekend to pray and meet with many of our leaders as we move forward this year. Sunday service was very powerful and it was a joy to serve our servant leaders who volunteer here at CWC week after week with a catered lunch. We are blessed to have so many folks that serve the Lord by serving others. Again, our heartfelt thanks to all who help us carry the vision.

As we begin this new year, I have been praying about the direction we will be taking in our weekly email communication. For three years I have written on prayer and worship from almost every angle and will continue to do so as the Lord leads. I will also be writing on various other topics and also will print thoughts from others on our staff—we have some great writers that you need to hear from!

On Sunday, Ps Joe kicked off our theme for the year—“Be One”! We believe this was a very important word from the Lord and comes from Malachi 2: 15 which says—

“Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring”.

Church, this is such a powerful word to us on every level. Not just a corporate word, good for the church, but a very important word to every member. To really reach the destiny God has for each one of us, we have to walk in unity—whether husband and wife, whether employer or employee, whether parents or children and the list goes on. What is produced as a result of the unity of the spirit? MUCH FRUIT!! Not only spiritual children, but we raise healthy children and grandchildren when there is harmony and unity in our lives. These are words that the New Age movement have taken and twisted but God himself instituted these first! (see Gen 2:24, Eph 4:13, and Psalm 133)

Even our praying is more powerful and much more effective when we pray in unity–

1 Chronicles 5:13
Matthew 18:19

As we pray this week, let’s remember that our requests in line with His will produce much fruit—“a godly offspring” in our lives!

1. Pray for unity in the body and in the different arms of the ministry
2. Pray for harmony as we move ACA out to our property
3. Pray for wisdom as we move forward with possession of the land
4. Pray for finances for those who are in need
5. Pray for the lost to be saved even this next month in our services
6. Pray for new families to join the church
7. Pray for favor as we plan our Easter weekend

Have a great week. Hope to see you in Recharge (Wed @ 6:30 pm) or on Sunday for Equip at 9:00 am and Celebration @ 10:00 am!

Be blessed,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team