Pray for Families (Rest in Him)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

I hope all of you are relaxing now that all of the preparations for Thanksgiving are over. In the interim between now and Advent, take time to recharge with your family. Don't get overly caught up with Black Friday madness, but rather find some quiet time to refocus, as Advent begins on Sunday.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Prayer is the best kind of rest. Pray for family.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Invite someone to rest. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Thanksgiving Prayers)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Two joined in love, sealed by the sacrament of marriage, begin at the perfect ground zero. From here, as their love blooms, a family springs forth and the real journey into the unknown begins.  Prayer, both theirs and yours, sustains this journey, nourishing them.

At Thanksgiving, all come together in celebration, recognizing the abundant fruits of the journey, especially the blessing of children.  We celebrate those who walk with us on the journey: parents, siblings, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  We gather together to take part in earthly banquet..  But since all that is good come from above, we pause first to praise the King of Kings; the One who blesses us, guides us, and sustains us.

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

Ask all present to participate.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

If we become impatient or annoyed by someone or something, let us meditate on scripture.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Let us focus on our abundant blessings, so that only praise and thanks rise to the heavens.

Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15
Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for all of you. My Thanksgiving Prayer this week for marriages and each of you will be:

The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! Numbers 6:24-26

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

All thanks, praise, and glory to Christ the King, who blesses us with peace and joy! Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Peace and Blessings)

Greetings Prayer Pilgrims,

In less than a week, we will be coming together with family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate and give thanks for all of our many blessings.   Now is the time to begin reflecting on how you have been touched by His generous and tender love.  Ponder how even your crosses were gifts.  Think about the many people He brought into your life to enrich it.  Let your family and friends know how much you love them.  Make sure you invite someone over who would otherwise be alone at Thanksgiving.

Use these gatherings to seek forgiveness and to forgive.  Pray for the healing of any rifts in your family and among your friends.  Pray that you may become the conduit for peace.  Ask the Lord to let you see your family and friends as He sees them, as His much beloved creation.

Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

Lord, please protect all of our travels.  Generously pour your love into our hearts so that we may share it with others.  May we bring Your peace and blessings to all whom we visit.  With enduring gratitude, we praise and thank you Lord!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Be a conduit of peace, love, and blessings. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Praise and Blessings)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

It is so easy to focus on the negative.  However, grumbling, complaining, and wallowing in self-pity only leads one to spiral downward.  What can then uplift you?  Praise!  Yes, praise to our God Almighty!  As we are tested by trials, let us not despair but rather let us praise Him.  Praise lifts us out of ourselves and places our focus on Him who shows us how to live a life of love, generosity, and gratitude.  Let us praise Him, for He never abandons us in our need.

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

You heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you powers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose mercy endures forever.

Bless the God of gods, all you who fear the Lord; praise and give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.” 

Daniel 3:52-63, 86-87, 89-90

Lord, we praise you and we thank you for your abundant blessings on marriages.  We implore you in your generosity, to continue to pour out untold graces on all marriages, especially those marriages most in need.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Praise Him, always.  Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Listening to the Voice from Within)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Most people would probably say that God doesn’t talk to them.   Or perhaps they would say they just don’t hear his voice.  I too at times have fallen into this line of thinking.  However, the reality is that the Holy Spirit is prompting us all day long, and we are just too busy or self-absorbed to pay attention.  We are surrounded by constant noise and distractions to the delight of the Evil One.

Recently I was at my volunteer job at a local hospital, in their Pastoral Care Department.  I bring Holy Communion to patients, or just pray with them. One day I was trying to get through the long list of patients I had to see.  Since I never know ahead of time whether I will be volunteering for one hour or four hours, I am usually motivated to be efficient.   Certain names on my list get crossed out either because they have infectious conditions or they can’t swallow, or they are not responsive, etc.  I was ready to cross out a name when something made me stop and ask myself, shouldn’t you just stop in to see if they’d like to pray?   As I walked into the room, I was startled to see a friend sitting by the patient’s bedside.  I was to learn that it was their parent.  I suddenly realized the Holy Spirit pushed me into that room. 

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice: Harden not your hearts.” 

 Hebrews 4:7

Like many of us, I almost shushed that voice, because not listening to it would have added time back into my day. But by listening and acting, I was able to do His will. I was able to be His hands and feet, His voice and His presence. I was able to give my friend a hug.

“Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10/11

Take some time to be still.  Pause throughout the day and sense what He is calling you to do for your family, your friends, and even strangers.   Spend some time in quiet prayer, and may your gift of service to God’s family be your prayer that rises to the heavens.   

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Encourage someone to take time to listen to the voice within.  Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Seeking a Remodel)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When God created us, he designed us for one another.  That we not be alone, and that we share the gifts he has given us.  Most importantly, He created us to love and be loved. 

While a diminutive 4 letters, L-O-V-E, love can pack a big wallop on us.  It can be one’s greatest joy, one’s greatest heartache, and everything in between.  But it was not meant to be a fleeting fancy, an uncontrollable wild ride, nor a helium balloon that soars then drops.  Rather Love is meant to be the foundation on which we stand.  Love is to be as constant as the beat of our heart.  Love is never meant to fail.  And Love doesn’t fail if the foundation on which a marriage is built is God. 

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

But even if we start with the Master Builder, soon one can decide to try to finish the construction himself/herself.   The walls weaken, the windows cloud, and the Light no longer can illuminate the house with the same intensity.   Darkness creeps in. 

Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek his face”, your face, LORD, do I seek!  

Psalm 27:7-8

No longer will your sun set, or your moon wane; For the LORD will be your light forever, and the days of your grieving will be over.  Isaiah 60:20

Time is precious. Do not wait.  Turn your heart back to God and He will rebuild your house.  Pray from your heart.  We are praying with you and for you.   Yes YOU, because you are loved and loveable. 

Prayer Angels encircle you.  Their prayer amplifies your heartfelt plea.  Pray without ceasing!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer renews hope.  Hope enlivens faith.  Faith unites us with Love.  Pass it on.    

Pray for Families (Forgive, Reconcile, and Put on the Armor of God!)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Don’t you wish you were always in a great mood, had the perfect temperament, and effused love and joy?  Maybe this is you, but it certainly isn’t me!  It takes such effort (and copious amounts of grace) for me to spend even a few minutes in such a state!  It doesn’t help that like flying arrows, we are bombarded daily by noise, traffic, images, demands, responsibilities, and criticisms.  This continual onslaught can put one on edge, making them testy, impatient, and caustic, putting their bad side on full display.  Whether we are the giver or recipient of such a state, it negatively impacts us and others, often causing anger, resentment, grudges, and finger pointing.

Beginning today and for the next week, let us choose to forgive and to reconcile; with oneself, with others, with God.  Let us ask to become centers of peace, love, and positivity.  But lest we impede the faucet of grace, let us pray continually for an outpouring on others and ourselves.

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. 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 6:12-17

Lord, please send us a torrential rain of grace so that you might reign in us and protect us from life’s storms!  Help us always to effuse your Peace, Joy, and Love.

Prayerfully, Janet

Arm a warrior.   Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Love from above)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Everyone needs some encouragement, but those worn down by the daily struggle of a difficult marriage need so much more.  For those barely holding on to hope, the Lord want’s to wrap you in his loving arms and tell you the following. 

Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10) I have called you by name: you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1) Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, do not fear, I will help you. (Isaiah 41: 10, 13) As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. Love one another as I love you. (John 15:9,12) I will be with you: I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5) For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:12-13) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27) 

With eternal love, Jesus

Out of love for married couples, let us continue to intercede for them in prayer.  May we be their voice, especially when they can no longer bring themselves to pray.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

You are loved, with an everlasting love. Pass it on!