Pray for Families (Bathed in Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

We were all born out of love.  I am not speaking about the love of your parents, but about the love of the Creator.  He loved each of you so much, He willed you into being.  Because He created you in His image and likeness, you were given dignity, beauty and a heart to love.  Take a quiet moment and place yourself in the presence of the Lord.  Allow yourself to feel how much He loves you.  You may feel unworthy, but He wants to bathe you in His Love.  Allow yourself to soak it in.

The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.  Romans 5:5

Pray for your family members and ask the Lord to help you see them through His eyes.  Ask Him to help you love them with His heart.  And finally, ask Him to give them all the grace they need to walk in His path.

Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 1:14

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Share some love.  Pass it on. 

Pray for Marriages (Shine Your Light)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

There it was taunting me on the morning news.  Marriage rates are at their lowest point in 100 years.

It’s ironic that heterosexual couples are choosing to live together, have babies, and delay or avoid marriage, while homosexual couples are advocating for marriage so that their children can say their parents are married.

The song lyrics of “If We’ve Ever Needed You” by Casting Crowns, entered my mind.

Hear our cry, Lord we pray,

Our faces down, our hands are raised,

You called us out, we turned away, we've turned away.

With ship wrecked faith, idols rise,

We do what is right, in our own eyes,

Our children now, will pay the price,

We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light.

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now,

We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out, we're reachin' out.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Matthew 6:10

Lord, we pray that all of your beloved children be infused with the light of your truth.  With faith, we continue to pray for the preservation and strengthening of all marriages: 

Lord, heal broken marriages, so they may be a witness to your mercy.  Strengthen good marriages, that they may be a witness to your love.  Shine you light on strong marriages, so they may be a beacon of hope, a sign of your Life, and a witness to your Glory.  Amen.

“Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer is a gift.  Pass it on.  

Pray for Families (Eyes to See)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

I’ll warn you.  I’m a little wound up!

God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female^* he created them.  Genesis 1:27

Dignity.  We were given dignity upon our creation, because we were made in the image of God.  We are treasured by Him.  Thus, we should treasure each life he brings into the world.

Recently a coworker and I were having a product discussion with one of our customers and when a word used, randomly diverted the topic to the Holocaust.  We all agreed the killing of so many innocent people was an atrocity.  My coworker pondered, “How was all that killing of the innocent allowed, especially when you consider the millions that were killed?  Didn’t people speak up? 

I felt my whole body tighten up.  I think my blood pressure shot up too.  I didn’t want to turn what was supposed to be a professional discussion with a customer into what is now considered a political statement.  Inside, I was screaming, wanting to respond, "The same way society has been lulled into thinking that the ripping of unborn babies from their mother’s womb is okay!!!!  Now over 55,000,000!  How? By redefining “killing” and sanitizing it with new wording. The same way people today are lulled into thinking that euthanasia of the sick/elderly is okay.  How? By redefining “killing” and sanitizing it with new wording.  By shifting the priority to what we want, not what God wants. ”

Anyone who sheds the blood of a human being, by a human being shall that one’s blood be shed; For in the image of God have human beings been made.  Genesis 9:6

Is it any wonder that marriage too is being redefined? We have stripped it of it’s procreative status.  Could it be because we as society have already shown children to be so irrelevant when we allow them to be killed (abortion, selective reduction, Plan B, birth control) pre-birth? Or even immediately post-birth, as did Kermit Gosnell? 

I still question whether I should have spoken up, rather than divert the discussion back to business. Is there ever a good time?

Where in your life are you being lulled into complacency and silence?  What does our inaction tell others?  What occurs as a result of our silence?

Let us pray for guidance and wisdom, not just for ourselves, but also for our families and our friends.  Let us ask for help in learning how to speak the bold truth with love.  Let us ask for eyes to see, so that we may first look at our own lives.   Let us witness to those who have misplaced compassion and are unintentionally blind.  Let us ask for a compassionate heart to convert the hearts of others through our love.  

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Speak the truth.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Oxygen for the Journey)

Greetings Prayer Warriors!

The beauty of the marriage covenant is something to be treasured.  When couples enter into marriage they anticipate the best, but often face days, weeks, or months that don’t always feel so idyllic. It can feel like a pirate stole their treasure!   The pain and anguish many experience is quite real.  Perseverance through difficulties can seem like climbing Mt Everest without oxygen.  The saints climb on, while the majority ask the Lord, “why?!”

I came across a prayer today that I thought was perfect for just such times.   When you find yourself sinking into a pool of bitterness and resentment, pray deeply within your soul:

“O God, you have allowed this to be; may your adorable desires and decrees be accomplished in all things: I make you a sacrifice of this difficulty and all its consequences; it shall take whatever from it pleases you: you are the Master; may you be blessed for all things and in all things.  Fiat!  For love of you, with all my heart I pardon the person who is the cause of my suffering; and, to show the sincerity of my feelings towards him/her, I beseech you to grant him/her every kind of grace, blessing, and happiness.”*

If your prayer doesn’t calm your negativity, continue on with:

“O God, you see my wretchedness; at least I long to have all these feelings, and I implore you for your grace.”*

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

Your prayers are like bursts of oxygen.  Continue to pray so that you may lift up those marriages most in need.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

No pain is wasted when it is offered as a beautiful sacrifice to the Lord.  Pass it on! 

*From the writings of an 18^th century priest, Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.