Pray for Marriages (Honoring the vow)

Greetings Prayer Warriors

It seems like all the magazine stands that I pass by lately have covers blasting the news of another celebrity breakup. Reasons are usually something like, "I fell out of love", " it wasn't fun any more," we didn't see much of each other," and "we were having trouble getting along". I wonder where they got the idea that marriage was nothing but a fairy tale and didn't take work? What were their vows, "Until we fall out of love do us part?" Can you imagine if that is how we viewed parenthood? "I'll be your parent until I stop liking you," or ".... until we stop getting along," or "...until I’m no longer the center of your world," or "....until it's not fun anymore.". If this was the case, I think there wouldn't be any parents left!

Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68

Marriage is being attacked like never before. Let’s pray that the gift of sacramental marriage between a man and a woman is never lost. Let us pray that the Lord is invited into all marriages. And finally, let us pray that grace be poured out upon all those marriages struggling to keep their vows. Pray unceasingly.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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Pray for Families (Unfinished Masterpiece)

Greetings Prayer Angels,

Life is such a journey. Sometimes for fun, I’ll retrospectively review my life over the years and remind myself that I was just a little sap before I grew into a large tree. Each twisted, but beautiful branch was a result of strong winds, heavy rains, occasional pruning, and the heat of the sun. Without the distress, there wouldn’t be the beauty.

God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Gen 1:31

It’s important to remember that storms are part of life. They make one stronger. We must accept that each family member has their own journey, their own path, even if it is difficult to witness them in the midst of storms.

So today let’s pray for the light of His glory to shine down upon families. That we will be able to see by His light, that His hands will calm the storms, that His arms will provide us shelter from life’s rains and winds, and that we will trust that throughout the journey, He will never leave any of us. For in each one of us, he sees the unfinished masterpiece he is creating. Ask Him to stay and complete the masterpiece in you.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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Pray for Marriages (A steady grasp)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

For my job, I was asked to create a journey line, a timeline of the highs and lows in my life that helped shape who I am. As most would, it goes up, down, up, down. Interestingly, it created a picture of when I needed God the most. The downs were the times I called out His name and He reached out His hand to me. Funny how I only held His hand when I was down.

I have since learned that if I walk with Him on a daily basis, I am more aware of his unshakable love for me. I am filled with joy and peace which center my emotions and prepare me to handle whatever the day may bring. I now chose to stand on a firm Foundation. In a way, my jagged journey line is becoming more of a curve as I surrender to His will.

Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me. Galations 2:20

Ask the Lord to reach out His hand, and then firmly grasp it. Whatever the ups and downs of your life, soften the curve by not letting go. Then, since this is the day we pray for marriages, consider those in most need and pray that His saving hand calms their storms.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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Pray for Families (Too blessed to be stressed)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

Always expect the unexpected. Sometimes our day, our week, or our entire life is thrown a curveball. Perhaps these are the moments that we are meant to find God. Perhaps He is expecting us to step up to the plate. Maybe it’s to take the next step and move out of our comfort zone so that we may draw closer to Him. In these moments we are reminded of our humanness and His awesomeness.

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

Use such moments to draw closer to your family for support, to invite them to walk with you, and to ask them to cheer you on. Only then will you see that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He. Psalm 99:3

Pray for families, that they will see the Lord walking with them through all their trials.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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P.R.A.Y. for M.O.M.

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

I love acronyms. That is why I dubbed my Monday blog “Pray for M.O.M.” (Marriages on Mondays). So to jumpstart your prayer today and every day, here is my acronym for “P.R.A.Y.” ☺.

Praise Him and glorify God in all you do; Petition Him to heal and bless marriages/families

Resolve to pray more, intercede for others, and invite others to pray.

Action-Lead with love; Love more as a sign of your thanksgiving for His unconditional love.

Yes Lord! Here I am. Your servant is listening.

I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone. 1Timothy 2:1

Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

In him we have put our hope (that) he will also rescue us again, as you help us with prayer, so that thanks may be given by many on our behalf for the gift granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

Thank you for your commitment to P.R.A.Y.

Peace, Love, and Joy,
Janet

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Pray for Families (Respond in Love)

Dear Prayer Angels,

Families are God’s gift to us. No wonder he said,

"Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.” Gen 9:1

A gift in the sense that when we surround ourselves with family, we should see the face of Christ.

For in the image of God has man been made. Gen 9:6

Do you see the face of God in your family members? Before you answer that, stop and look in the mirror. Do you show them the face of God? Make a promise to yourself to gird yourself in Love, everyday so that you can always respond in love. When family battles arise, disarm those around you with His love.

To reflect Christ most brilliantly, you must become like Him, Love itself.

Lord, help us to see you not only in our family, but in everyone we meet. Give us the courage to dismantle the armor of our heart and gird ourselves with love instead. For love when shared, heals us, heals others, and brings about peace and unity. Lord, this is our prayer for all families that we may continue to love one another as you have loved us.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Pray for Marriages (Turn toward God)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

As I see so many marriages struggle, I often wonder why it isn’t easier. The answer goes back to Adam and Eve.

According to faith the disorder we notice so painfully does not stem from the nature of man and woman, nor from the nature of their relations, but from sin. As a break with God, the first sin had for its first consequence the rupture of the original communion between man and woman. Their relations were distorted by mutual recriminations; their mutual attraction, the Creator's own gift, changed into a relationship of domination and lust; and the beautiful vocation of man and woman to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth was burdened by the pain of childbirth and the toil of work. CCC 1607

But here’s the good news!

To heal the wounds of sin, man and woman need the help of the grace that God in his infinite mercy never refuses them. Without his help man and woman cannot achieve the union of their lives for which God created them "in the beginning." CCC 1608

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ Titus 11-13

By coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, he himself gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension of the Reign of God. It is by following Christ, renouncing themselves, and taking up their crosses that spouses will be able to "receive" the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ. This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ's cross, the source of all Christian life. CCC 1615

For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

Lord, it is so clear that you are the answer to all our needs. Give each of us the eyes to see how much we need you. Give us the humility to see we can’t achieve anything without you. Give us the courage to fall to our knees and ask for your help, your healing, your comfort, and your steadfastness. Help us turn away from sin so that we may be open to your grace. Pour your grace abundantly upon each married couple, especially upon those resisting you the most. Jesus we trust in You. Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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Pray for Families (Spiritual)

Greetings Prayer Angels,

I have been privileged to attend 3 funerals in the last 8 weeks. Yes, privileged. As difficult and painful as it is to see the grief that death brings to a family, when I zoom my focus out, the landscape I see is beautiful beyond belief.

For I see God filling the void of loss with abundant love. That love is sent in the form of His children, mobilizing to show the face of Christ by journeying with the grief-stricken. His amazing love pours out from our spiritual family in the form of service, compassion, acts of kindness, prayer, and presence.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

In God’s incredible mercy, He’s given us a much larger family. When individuals, families, churches, and communities come together to support the grieving, there is a strengthening of the fabric of our society. Although each of us is a beautiful masterpiece of His creation, a unique quilt square if you will, when woven together into one quilt, we are all pulled out of the darkness of our grief to find life again and reflect the glory of the Lord. Our eyes are once again opened to the magnificence of our God.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
Matthew 28:20

Today, please pray for those who mourn. Reach out to someone who has lost a loved one in the past year. Show them the love of Christ. Then pray for our spiritual family. May we all be servants of Christ in the growth of His family.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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Pray for Marriages (Resolve to Love)

Happy New Year!

With the turn of a calendar page and 2012 appearing, I love the idea of a fresh start, perhaps a new perspective. By making resolutions, everything bad can be left with the previous year and we can resolve and agree to begin anew. If you make but one resolution, make it be to love. And keep in mind that love is an action, not a feeling.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:4-8

Now read it again slowly, allowing the words to touch your heart, so you might know how you are to change your heart. Love, it is the only resolution you need this year.

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. 1 Thes 3:12

Pray that all marriages will grow in love throughout the year.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

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