Joe & Becky Cruse

At this writing, we are concluding the revival here in Ashland VA at The Master’s House with a final service here tonight. The meetings have been so powerful and the hunger of the people in attendance has really touched our hearts. Ps Jim Langlois and the folks have been gracious hosts and we do believe God has graced us with His presence and with His favor. Many have come from other churches to support the meetings. Thank you to all our new family and friends in the VA area–we look forward to a return visit very soon!

With regards to our corporate prayer time this week—I Timothy 2:8 says, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”

That’s a very interesting scripture. Paul is writing to his young spiritual son, Timothy, with some clear instructions on worship in the early church. The posture of lifting up hands in prayer is two fold:

The lifting of the hands is a sign of Surrender

Psalm 28:2?Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

Psalm 119:48?I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

I am reminded of the old b/w westerns several years back. The bad guys would stick a gun in the back of a good guy and shout these words, “STICK EM UP!!” That meant, SURRENDER! When we lift our hands before the Lord in prayer we are saying, “God, I give up to my will and my ways. I want your will above all else.” That very attitude releases the Lordship of our life to Him. We are yielded to His perfect will and accept His purpose and His plans above our own.

The lifting of the hands is a sign of the Sacrifice of Praise

Psalm 63:4?I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands

Psalm 134:2?Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.

Psalm 100:4 tells us how we should come into His presence. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Church, as we give Him the praise He is due, our praise opens the door into the supernatural and charges the atmosphere with faith. We can exchange that garment of heaviness for the garment of praise and see the enemy defeated in our lives.

As we pray this week, lets remember this very simple, yet powerful scripture. Lift those hands in a sign of surrender and go ahead and make His praise glorious! Just watch what God will do!

We are going to agree in prayer this week for:

• the services this week at CWC (Recharge, Equip, Celebration @ 10:00 am, the Hispanic, and Four12—ask God for a fresh wind of heaven to blow across each service and for souls to be saved, healed and filled in each service)

• the Easter Weekend outreach and services—let’s ask the Lord for a harvest of souls as a result of these opportunities

• the Ignite Revival April 11-15 with evangelist Tim Hall—let’s start getting people in our hearts that need to be in those meetings. We want to see lost people saved, we want to see the sick healed, the backslider return to God, and new members added to the church as a result of the meetings. We want to see worship and the passion for God’s presence be ignited in the hearts of people in a fresh new way

• The upcoming worship revivals and conferences for WMI—Covenant Christian Center in Tampa Fl—Houston Worship Centre in Houston Tx—Oahu, HI and Seattle, WA revivals

• ACA and IFTA—God’s will established over both entities and that the students finish the year strong

• Supernatural finances for the people through job opportunities, increases in salary, IRS income refunds, outstanding debts being paid, etc

Friends, we are praying for you today. We pray that this week, God meets you in a supernatural way in your everyday world. We pray that His blessing and His favor will rest upon you and that you remember that He is all you need, He is your provider, and that as you constantly acknowledge His presence, He will show up on your behalf.

DON’T FORGET THAT THIS WEEKEND BEGINS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME! SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD 1 HOUR SATURDAY NIGHT!

We love you so very much—be blessed,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

These are the greatest days to be alive! I’ve heard people say, “I would like to have lived back in the old days” but not me. I’m glad I am apart of “this generation”. Psa. 24:6 says, “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah”.

Church, it is imperative that in these days, we seek the Lord with our whole hearts. It’s amazing how easy it is to “unplug” or “disconnect” when trying times come. We want to try and fix things on our own—trying to take matters into our own hands. Instead of running away from God—we need to run to Him. We must keep our eyes right on Him and fan that desire to stay connected to the “True Vine”.

I think its important to ask ourselves, “if it’s important to stay connected with Jesus, how does that happen?” For those of us who have been walking with the Lord for many years, that seems like a relatively easy question. But to those that have recently come to Christ, or have returned to their first love, it’s an important one. Let’s look at 3 ways to a better connection–

1. We connect through our obedience to His commandments

Deut. 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

I think the above scriptures pretty well says it all—obedience is such a key to maintaining that strong and solid connection with the Lord.

2. We connect through our relationship with His company (the body of Christ)

Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Church, I think this is a HUGE key! In reality, you connect with God by connecting with His people! Relationships with a community of believers is so important—not just for you personally but also for that local church. We truly need one another. Join a centre g group, be a greeter, serve in the children’s ministry or involve yourself in the church’s outreach ministry. These are all viable ways to open the door or better yet, to keep the door open into God’s blessing for you as your journey in your quest to know and follow Him!

3. We connect through our yielding to His call

1Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Whether God is calling you to a deeper walk, or He is calling you to step outside your comfort zone and share your faith, yielding to His voice will connect your faith with heaven and you will engage or “encounter” the Savior like never before.

As we pray this week, make a better connection by making a choice to obey His Word, fellowship with His people, and yield yourself to His call for your life. Go ahead—do it!

Prayer directives–

• Pray for a citywide revival to sweep our city
• The vision of WMI, CWC, IFTA and ACA
• Pray for the 1830’s, Four12 and Kids Centre
• Pray for the Young Married’s and our Forties +
• Wisdom as we reach out to our communities and meet needs
• An increase of finances corporately and personal—also, that the lies of the enemy about the economic situation would be silenced
• Pray for the Easter outreach
• Pray for the Ignite revival

Church, have an awesome week. Can’t wait to see you—we love you heaps!

Ps Joe and Becky and the team

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

Good News! I am writing today to remind you that are “blessed with every spiritual blessing by Christ Jesus”. (Eph 1:3)

We had such an incredible week of revival this past week. Every guest minister spoke the Word of God with such boldness. God did mighty things for all those in attendance. If you were not able to be in the night meetings, they should be available on video cast @ www.cityworship.com by the end of this week. I know your pastors will be listening to them over and over! And church, as always, we want to thank you for YOUR faithfulness in attendance and in you giving to our guests. We were able to really bless each minister because of your generosity. We are praying for a one hundred-fold return on every seed sowed! AMEN!

As we wrap up the last week of our fast, let’s really press in to finish strong. I know for myself, as the last few days approach, I seem to get weary in well doing but this is the time we must stay focused and not quit. These days are so important in the life of our church and in your lives as well. We must hear His voice and follow Him with all our hearts. Remember this, fasting doesn’t change God—it changes us and believe me, we are all being changed, “from glory to glory!” As a reminder, our corporate fast ends Saturday evening at sundown; however, if the Lord leads you to continue, be obedient. God will bless you abundantly as you consecrate yourself to Him.

As I close this writing, I want to leave you with this powerful passage of scripture from Hebrews 10—

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Church, we believe “That Day” is upon us and whatever we do for the Kingdom of God must be done now. As we finish consecrating this first month to the Lord, may His Kingdom be established in us, may His love pour out of us, and may our lives represent His saving power to a lost and dying world like never before.

Have a blessed week and we look forward to seeing you this week, either in prayer on Wed night @ 6:30 or Sunday morning @ 9:00 for Equip and 10:00 for our Sunday Explosion!

Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

How is your week going? It’s really cold here in central Texas—they say the coldest winter in a decade! And it is also the winter we moved into the tent! The Lord has such a sense of humor! Brrr…

I am writing to remind all you wonderful people about our upcoming revival beginning this Sunday, Jan. 10th. We have some wonderful special guests that will be ministering in the evenings. Ps Dean and Jane Bearden from Journey Church in Corpus Christi, TX, Ps Melvin and Machelle Smith from Cedar Park, TX and Ps Mike and Vicki Hankins from Rockwall, TX. These dear folks are seasoned ministers of the gospel and you aren’t going to want to miss one service. It is going to be a powerful week of ministry and impartation! Will you just go ahead and pencil next week on your calendar, “appt. with God!” Revival runs Sunday-Friday and the services are nightly @ 7:00 pm. Come warm, casual, and comfortable and let’s press in as we are in the early stages of Fasting and Prayer in our Vision Month here at CWC. I believe God wants to speak to you personally and to all of us as a church. It’s gonna be awesome!

Early this morning, we were up spending time with the Lord and He took us to a very familiar passage of scripture;

Philippians 4 says—

4Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
5Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].
6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
7And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
9Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

Several things that jumped out to me—“gladden yourselves in Him”. In other words, don’t wait for someone else to stir you up—stir yourself up! Get happy! It’s up to you!

“Don’t fret about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by PRAYER AND PETITION (DEFINITE REQUESTS)! In other words, be specific. And do it with Thanksgiving!

And God’s peace will “garrison and mount guard”. Church, what a promise!

Verse 8 says, “think on and weigh and take account of the things that are true, pure, lovely kind, gracious, virtuous and excellent”. In other words, don’t dwell on the things you that you didn’t do…dwell on the things that you did do and that the Lord has blessed! We all “coulda, shoulda, woulda”!!! But we can’t dwell on that…we have to rehearse the past victories and dwell on the wins!

And last but not least, Paul says we are to, “practice what you have learned.” In other words, “stay with what you know”. Don’t keep looking for the next new thing. Someone once said, “Dance with the one that brung ya!!!” And that is still a very good piece of advice! Many of us have been raised on the tenets of faith, trust and reliance on God and folks, we better stay with that!

During this season of prayer and fasting—why don’t you join us these next Wednesdays for prayer and praise in the cabin? I promise you—you will not be disappointed! The anointing of God is so powerful and you can feel Him changing you from “glory to glory!”

Friends, have a blessed week. We would love to hear what the Lord is doing in you or saying to you during the fast. Why don’t you take a moment and drop us a line with praise reports? It would be a blessing to many!

Another year of blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team

Can you believe 2009 is wrapped up and 2010 is beginning to unfold? What an amazing year it’s been and if you think ’09 was good, just you wait and see!! I truly believe ’10 is going to be the year of blessing, favor and prosperity. Ten represents divine order and friends, things WILL come into divine order!

January is going to be a full month—VISION MONTH! We begin our corporate fast this coming Sunday, Jan 3rd-23rd. Our New Season Revival runs the 10th-15th and on Sunday, Jan 31st, we will lay out the vision for the coming year. (details on these and other activities will be in your worship guide or at www.cityworship.com.)

This month, we want to start the year off right! With the transition to our new home, Servant Leader Captains and Pastoral Staff are going to be running training sessions for old and new servant leaders (that’s what we call our volunteers or Helps Ministry) on Wednesday nights following prayer for 1 hour.. Also, on Sunday Jan 31st, we will be recognizing all our faithful servant leaders in the Sunday morning service and hosting a special luncheon in their honor.

Friends and family, its going to be a great month so grab your sneakers (and some warm clothes!) and join us this Sunday as Pastor begins the “FAST FORWARD” series and let’s dive into the new year ready for all God has for us.

I’ll close this week’s letter with Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

From all of us at Worshipworks Ministries International, we speak God’s abundant blessings and trust you have a very happy and blessed New Year!

Ps Joe and Becky and the team