Saturday, March 16, 2024

Pray for Families (Desolation and Consolation)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,


Most people plan out their lives.  They want to be married by a certain age, have X number of kids, have great careers, travel, and live their lives to the fullest. But rarely is that path a straight line and often there are roadblocks and detours. Sometimes, OUR plans are crushed. 


While I have been dealing with family medical issues, so have many of my friends. Some are in the sandwich generation, taking care of kids and parents, others just have unique family dramas and crises. What is so easy to lose sight of, is that the Lord has a plan for all of this. None of this is a surprise to Him.  None of it is without a higher purpose.


For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. 

Jeremiah 29:11


While that doesn’t feel consoling in the moment, how often have you looked back on trying events and seen the blessing? 


Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4


When in desolation, be consoled by the prayers we pray for you. May they lift you up! When in a period of consolation, rejoice and pray fervently for those in desolation. We are one in Christ, so let’s pray fervently for the benefit of the whole. May all be blessed!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Pray for those experiencing difficult times and pass it on!  


Monday, March 11, 2024

Pray for Marriages (Surviving Basic Training)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,


Many marriages suffer because they became unyoked spiritually, or weren’t necessarily yoked to begin with. Rather than journeying astride, their relationship became a push and pull, creating a very unsteady gait. Re-syncing  can be very difficult, especially when one thinks perfection is changing the rhythm of the other


For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. John 4:44


It’s not our job to change or even convert our spouse. It’s the Lord’s. That’s a difficult pill to swallow if you are a control freak, and even if you aren’t! This where humility and surrender are required.  “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything”.   


We are called to be a reflection of Christ in his love, his mercy, and his peace.  In his tenderness, meekness, and compassion. And most of all, we are called to pray for our spouse, calling down blessings and graces upon them. 


Our earthly life  is our basic training in the building of virtue. We are broken down so the Lord can build us up stronger. We are the little lambs he carries upon his shoulders when we are too weak to carry on. We can take rest in the fact that we never walk alone. 


Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:29-30


Lord, we ask you to lift up the tired, the weak, the frustrated, and the discouraged. May your grace restore them, fortify them, and nourish them to forge ahead on their journey, especially in their marital relationship. Sustain them on their personal way of the cross, bringing them a “Simon of Cyrene” to help them carry on when they burden is too much. If it be thy will, send us to be a “Simon” for another, in true brotherhood and sisterhood. Help us to be a reflection of you, both inside and outside of our marriages.  Jesus,we trust in you, now and forevermore!


“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. Revelation 21:3


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Simon says, you can do this too. Pass it on. 


Friday, March 8, 2024

Pray for Families (Battling Confusion)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,


These are confusing times. Families are facing challenges previously never even imagined. Lies are paraded around as truth. We have pronoun wars, gender wars, political wars, healthcare wars, religion wars, and border wars, just to name a few. All wars are meant to control someone or something. 


An acquaintance, whose daughter has cancer, is fighting with a healthcare system so that she can access her 13 year old’s medical chart. Mind you, the 13 year old doesn’t have email nor is internet savvy. Apparently, parent’s lose access to their child’s health records once they are 13 years old. Who is being protected?


Who is fighting for the children? The families? 


Some foster parents are struggling to keep a child from being sent back to a drug-addicted mother. Who is being protected?


Who is fighting for the children? The families? 


Vaccines with limited long term safety testing are often mandated for little children and babies. Parents are not being given full informed consent, nor can they sue a vaccine manufacturer if their child is harmed. Who is being protected?


Who is fighting for the children? The families? 


Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Ephesians 6:10-12


We are fighting for the children and the families. With prayer, fasting, and the rosary as our weapons, we are empowered to fight, to push back, and to hold our ground in defense and protection of the truth. By immersing ourselves in the Gospel of Truth, the Lord will give us the words and tools necessary for combat. Wield the power of prayer. Pray, pray, pray!


Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17


The list of concerns is endless, but do not dwell in worry, instead,


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Encourage one another in prayer. Pass it on! 


Monday, March 4, 2024

Pray for Marriages (Keeping Custody)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,


There are some things that tear apart a marriage. An obvious one is adultery. However, there are other things that can wound a marriage, such as lust and pornography. Perhaps you’ve never considered the latter. In 1976, there was a famous Playboy interview with presidential candidate Jimmy Carter where he admitted he "looked on a lot of women with lust" and had "committed adultery in my heart many times."  It rocked the news at the time placing Jimmy in a very negative light. Unfortunately, today many wouldn’t blink an eye after such a statement. A change in the culture doesn’t mean it’s no longer a sin. Custody of the eyes is important as well as custody of the heart.


And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna. Mark 9:47


Prevention is the best plan. Know your weaknesses, and stay close to the sacraments. Guard your marriage, invest more in your relationship, and fortress it with prayer.  


A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.  

Psalm 51:12


Lord, we pray for the fortification and healing of marriages.  For all who have slipped into sin, grasp their hand to pull them out of the mire. Crush their desire for evil, forgive their offenses, cleanse them of their impurity, and guard their eyes and heart. Enkindle the flame of their marital love, that it may burn hotter and holier than ever before. May your unfathomable love and mercy be their only distraction. Amen.


But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed. Isaiah 53:5


Have faith in the one who can heal all. Jesus, we trust in You! 


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Pray for unified marriages. Pass it on! 

Friday, March 1, 2024

Pray for Families (A Path to Surrender)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,


We are a couple weeks into Lent, and it’s time for a self-assessment on how well you are keeping with your Lenten goals. No judgment here, as I am having constant missteps as I try to stay on track. I can’t even send this blog post out on time! Yet, we are all called to get back on track when we derail. 


Maybe you didn’t make any Lenten commitments? Recommit to praying for marriages and families, especially your own! Not good at fasting? Fast from what steals your prayer time. Reclaiming that time could be used to advance your journey to holiness, allowing you to be a more powerful witness to your family. It could also be used to increase your prayers for your family members. 


Lent is a time to surrender your will to God’s will.


“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. 

Matthew 6:9-10


God has a big plan for your family, young and old. The hardest  part is trusting in it, especially when His plans and timing don’t align with yours, which seems to be the majority of the time. Begin each day, by renewing your desire and commitment to surrender your will to His.


In the morning let me hear of your mercy, for in you I trust. Show me the path I should walk, for I entrust my life to you. Psalm 143:8


Keep your eyes on God. Remember, you never journey alone. There is always a prayer warrior praying for you and your family!


Seek out the LORD and his might; constantly seek his face. Psalm 105:4


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Take a step forward in prayer and pass it on!


Monday, February 26, 2024

Pray for Marriages (Humility and Surrender)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,  


Sacraments bestow grace. We understand that in our heads, but do we know that in our hearts? Contemplate how generous God is in bestowing gifts. Can you now imagine how lavish that grace is?  


Each sacrament is a gift. Every sacrament is conferred by a Vicar of Christ. What a blessing it is to receive more than just a marriage license, but a sacramental blessing!


For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7


I’ve never considered this passage in the light of marriage before, but it is very fitting. Marriage is not for the timid! Each couple is given the power to shine the light of Christ through their union, in new and profound ways. They have been fortified as “the two will become one flesh.” * The love of God has been infused into them, and they are to fan it into flame, not squelch or misuse it. Throughout one’s marriage, there will be plenty of opportunities to practice self-control: Mind, body, emotions, words, and actions. One is to remember God’s gifts and beg for more grace!! Never be timid in the asking!


“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6


Lord, may your grace continue to flow upon marriages. May we each rely less on self, and more on you, as each vows to pray, “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!”When one is angry, frustrated, lost, disillusioned, fearful, offended, crushed, demoralized, pushed down, unyoked, or betrayed in their marriage, may they turn to you and pray, “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” For you, Lord, who deigned to bestow such abundant graces upon marriages, will fill in the gap and lead them to restful waters if only they can pass the reins. You reign! Help all couples to humble themselves before you, bow down, and receive the shower of graces which await them. Amen.


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet


Humility and surrender are a powerful combination. Pass it on! 


*Mark 10:8


Friday, February 23, 2024

Pray for Families (Chosen for His Love)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,


How is it that the sweetest, most pure little ones can become so broken and corrupted over time? We should look inward and ask that question, because we all came into this world as little ones filled with innocence. Yet in time, we, like others around us, may have found ourselves lost, searching, lonely, anxious, broken in spirit, broke, or even living the high life, trying to convince ourselves of our happiness. Or maybe we saw our misery and sought solace in drugs, alcohol, sex, or whatever gave us fleeting pleasure. One learns these things never fill the void, but often widen it. Watching a family member struggle is enough to break our hearts. However if this is yourself, do not despair!


Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.  

Psalm 124:8


The Lord conquered our sin and paid our debt. If there is something to contemplate this Lent, ponder that. He chose us as the recipients of His love, a love our mind can hardly grasp. A love that beats for us. A love begging for each of us to turn to Him in our loneliness, brokenness, confusion, or despair, that we might be restored anew.


“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9


We all hold all of God’s children in our hearts, many who have been victims of difficult circumstances, made bad choices, or haven’t yet awakened to the psychological oppression of their choices. Thus we continue in prayer. I imagine most of you prayer warriors only became warriors because someone known or unknown prayed for you when you were struggling in life. With gratitude and love, let’s pass on the gift of prayer by lifting up all those we have been asked to pray for, as well as all those that may have no one to pray for them. But just as important, let’s pray for each other, that we may persevere in our prayers and be renewed when our strength is weakened.  Finally, let us also give thanks for the Lord’s enduring mercy, which helped extricate us from the evils in our past.

 

If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die! Ezekiel 18:21


Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet 


His love endures forever. Pass it on!