Pray for Families (Time-less)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Recently I was talking to a customer about kids and their activities. She started talking about her son’s crazy schedule: School until 1:50 pm, football from 2-5:00 pm, basketball from 5-8:00 pm, with a drive-thru dinner squeezed somewhere in between. Weekends she said were taken up with tournaments and driving around her son’s friends. “I just don’t know how people with more than one child do this!” she exclaimed. “They don’t,” I responded. “Their children aren’t granted unlimited activities.“

This made me think. In today’s culture it seems that parents’ lives pivot around their children’s lives. Whereas when I was young, my life pivoted around my parents’ schedule. They led, I followed. Could this shift have anything to do with the breakdown of the American family? Has the overloaded schedule replaced family mealtime, family game night, time for pleasure reading, family conversations, and just plain quiet time? What exactly are we worshipping? If there’s no quiet time, how would one ever hear His voice? Does prayer time and church time get squeezed out because there isn’t any time leftover?!

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust shall be your strength. But this you did not will. Is 30:15

As we lift up the family in prayer, let us pray that we have restraint in our own lives. If you are controlled by your schedule, schedule quiet time. Schedule prayer time. Schedule one-on-one time with a loved one. Let the healing begin at home.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Work on making your life more “time-less”. Then share it with a friend.

Pray for Marriages (Conquering the Impossible)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Your ongoing commitment to pray for marriages touches my heart deeply. The need in this category is overwhelming, and I hate the thought of anyone losing hope, who is seriously trying to salvage their marriage.

This past weekend, songs and readings created an interesting fusion of thought. First I was stuck by some lyrics, then by a meditative reading.

Impossible is not a word, it's just a reason for someone not to try.*

Then I read this:

“For in becoming man, God chose to communicate himself not only in spite of fragility, but “through” it. …. we can stop looking at our limitations as a reason for discouragement or frustration, ……. and can start looking at them as stones to build with.”

“You do not find freedom from your own miseries by censoring them, but by handing them over to Christ, which is to say, by letting him embrace them.”**

All of this takes endurance, faith, and hope.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access (by faith) to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

I've seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered, broken hearts become brand new, that's what faith can do.*

Prayer is the answer. Never cease praying for marriages.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Help a friend conquer the impossible. Lead them to prayer. http://simplyinspiredprayer.blogspot.com/

* lyrics from “That’s what faith can do” by Kutless
** Magnificat Vol. 13, No. 7

Pray for Families (Saving Grace)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The best thing for bringing about unity in a family is family prayer. One of the hardest things to orchestrate though is bringing the family together to pray, while at other times the difficulty lies in just initiating prayer when together. And what do you do when everyone is at a different point on the yellow brick road of faith? Or when the family’s exuberance to pray runs from flat to fervor?

Be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. 1Peter 3:8

A good place to initiate family prayer is at mealtime. Start with Grace, being thankful for the food that gives us physical sustenance. Then slowly expand by adding individual prayer intentions and being thankful for the spiritual sustenance we receive. Before you know it you are praying as a family.

This actually emphasizes the importance of gathering at mealtime. Protect family mealtime. It is under constant attack by the enemy who knows where the modern family’s weakness is. Continue to pray for families as you pray with your family.

And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Col 3:14-15

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our daily bread, which gives us the energy to serve you by serving others. May we always share what we have with those in less fortunate, knowing that they too are our family in Christ. Likewise, give us the grace to share your abundant love, not only with the family you have gifted us with in our home, but your entire family that you have shared with us here on earth. In your mercy and love, pour out your blessings upon each family. Strengthen them against the snares of the devil. One day through your grace, may we all be united as one voice, singing the praises of your glorious name. Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Provide some saving grace. Pass this on.

Pray for Marriages (Stillness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

So often when it feels like our life is falling apart or when it's just plain crazy, we hold on tighter to the reins and yell "charge!" attempting to slay whatever dragon is in our life. But why do we think that we're the commanding officer and the battle is all ours?

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

When you are in a frenetic state, being "still" might be hard to imagine. A questioning mind might ask "why?"

The Lord himself will fight for you, you have only to keep still. Ex 14:14

It's as if to say we waste a lot of energy fretting , worrying, pacing, & blathering when we only need to rest, trust, and look to our heavenly General.

Look to the Lord as an example. He allowed himself to be born as a completely helpless baby. Trust. Did he ever wear armour and charge into battle? Trust. Humility. Gentleness.

Where in your life aren't you still? Practice trust in the Lord. Then pray for all marriages. Trust that your prayers will be heard.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Offer some stillness to a friend. Pass it on.

Pray for Families (Gentleness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

I was reflecting on the fruits of the Holy Spirit and came upon “gentleness”.

gen·tle·ness \ˈjen-təl-nəs\

noun
:the quality or state of being gentle; especially: mildness of manners or disposition*

It occurred to me that I have never heard a sermon or homily on seeking to nurture the attribute of gentleness. Nor are their television programs and movies touting it. Perhaps that is why there are so few people (including myself) that I would call “gentle”. The attribute is highly undervalued, yet everyone likes to be the recipient of it.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Say a prayer today that both you and your family members will grow in gentleness. Just saying the word “gentleness” makes you smile and feel good, doesn’t it? Become the ground zero of gentleness. Be contagious. Take it viral!

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

There’s more than one way to take something viral. Forward to a friend.

*Merriam-Webster dictionary

Pray for M.O.M. (Metamorphosis of the Heart)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We often hear from people that they shy away from religion because of “all the rules”. It’s as if Christianity is nothing but a cross to bear and Scripture is nothing but a bunch of laws and commandments. We humans sure have a great fear of being restricted or inconvenienced.

But what if we shifted the paradigm and realized that a relationship with Christ doesn’t shackle you but unshackles you? Scripture isn’t meant to give a list of rules, but rather to soften and transform our heart so that we are no longer need the rules. (CCC 1968) In essence, our transformation grants us freedom from the law as the law no longer challenges us and as a result we are able to fulfill that law.

A veil lies over their hearts, but whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit,* and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2Cor 3:15-17

What laws/commandments do you struggle with the most? This week, resolve not to fight the “law” but ask the Holy Spirit to unveil and transform your heart so that the “law” no longer challenges you. Find strength and encouragement in the Scriptures.

Take some time to pray for marriages. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform colliding hearts and minds, so that what may feel like a shackled union will metamorphose into a loving embrace.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Send a key to unlock the shackles. Pass this on.

Pray for Families (Consent to Ascent)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

One story in the bible that gives me so much hope is the story of Saul. He went from persecutor of the early disciples of Jesus, encouraging the stoning of St. Stephen, to one of the greatest Christian missionaries of the Church. His prolific epistles make up many of the books in the bible.

Going from Saul to Paul is total grace. Like Saul who was stuck blind by the Lord for 3 days to awaken him spiritually, we too sometimes need major events in our life to spark our momentum toward Christ.

So when things get tough for you or a member of your family, don’t despair but rather thank our Heavenly Father for the reminder to look to Him. Consent to ascent. He just may be preparing you for sainthood.

To you I raise my eyes, to you enthroned in heaven. Psalm 123:1

Prayer is the fuel necessary for ascending. Continue to pray for families, especially those in most need.

Peace, Joy and Love,
Janet

Help with the ascent. Forward to a friend.

Pray for Marriages (Love and Pray)

Labor Day

Dear Prayer Angels,

Love
A
Beloved
Or
Relative

toDAY

Relax and spend the day loving your loved ones. May your only labor be participating in God’s transforming love.

May your prayer for marriages be in deed, spoken word, or silent prayer.

It is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim... ...that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. Col 1:27-29

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Labor less, love more. Pass it on.

Pray for Families (The Forgiving Hug)

Greetings Prayer Angels,

Children are so adorable, aren’t they? When they misbehave, not so much. Whether your children are young or now adults, nothing is more endearing than when they apologize for their actions (or lack thereof), you forgive them, and you both hug. The misdeed is forgotten and your love for them seems to grow larger.

So too it is with our heavenly Father. It tears at His heart when we don’t go to Him to seek forgiveness. He too wants to share His mercy and give us a big bear hug of love. He awaits us with open arms.

Lord, you are good and forgiving, most merciful to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5

Is there anyone who doesn’t like a big bear hug? It creates a sense of comfort, security, trust, and love. This long weekend, turn to the Lord for mercy and bask in His bear-hug love. Then pass on the love to your family members by giving them big hugs. You will feel the Father’s love flow through you. The smiles that result will be contagious. Enjoy the long weekend and squeeze in a few extra hugs.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Send a remote hug. Pass it on.