Pray for Families (Release from Deadly Sin)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

This week was my annual business meeting in Las Vegas, aka Sin City.  I would like to think it is just a fun place to relax and play, and for some it may be. But whether I was riding the elevator, wandering the casino, or walking around the city, my eyes were attacked with sexual images.  As I traversed the casino trying to get to the conference center, free entry tickets to the clubs and bars were thrust at me, hoping I would be the object of lust to lure more men in.  Different scents were pumped into the air vents and I longed to find an exit to the outside world, but instead I found I was in a maze to keep me in.  Such are the powers of evil!

Vegas is such a metaphor for sin! Just viewing the incomprehensible opulence and decadence of The Strip can spark envy and greed.  Pride can propel one to expend copious cash while they hope for the glory of the big win.  Of course anger doesn’t set in until one realizes how much they’ve lost.  So one sets out among the brightly lit towering monuments to the gods of wealth and materialism, seeking an all-you-can-eat gluttonous buffet.   Then they sink into spiritual sloth blaming God for all their bad luck.  No need to find a church, they think to themselves, “I’m on vacation!”

Lift from us the burden of our guilt: Grant us the freedom we have sold for illusions of pleasure or power.

Where have you sold your freedom? What deadly sin(s) shackle(s) you? Spend some time contemplating this, and then pray for yourself and your family that the Merciful Lord will grant all of you freedom from the desire for wealth, fame, power, flattery, and sinful pleasures.  

For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.
Galatians 5:13, 17

 Lord, lift the veil from our eyes, that we may see heavenly reality versus our earthly illusions!  Free us from our deadly sin!

I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. Hosea 14:4

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Hope lives!  He frees us from the shackles of our sin! Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (The Grace to See Truth)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Most of you know the story of Saul, who became Paul, and is now St. Paul.  He went from vicious murderer and persecutor of Christ’s followers to a staunch defender of Christianity. Like Paul, have you ever felt you were absolutely right about something, only to realize later that you were instead, very wrong?  As humans, we can be so intent on being right, that we never stop to seek the truth!

In marriage, how often does a spouse refuse to change behavior because they believe they are right and refuse to hear the other side?  Stubbornness is a frequent source of conflict in many relationships. Paul’s conversion of heart and ultimate triumph came through grace; unearned grace in abundance! What a beautiful testament to the mercy of God.  Let us pray for an outpouring of such grace too!

The LORD, your God, will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you will love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart and your whole being, in order that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:6

Lord God, look with kindness upon marriages, especially those in most conflict.  Open our hearts with the light of your grace and remove all stubbornness and pride. Help us to put all of our faith in you, the only Truth.  Help us each to be docile to your will, to love as you love, and to be merciful as you are merciful. 

I delight to do your will, my God; your law is in my inner being!”  LORD, may you not withhold your compassion from me; May your mercy and your faithfulness continually protect me. Psalm 40:9, 12

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Grace can change anyone!  Pray for grace-filled marriages!  Pass it on!   

  

Pray for Families (Eyes to see His Mercy)

National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Today is designated as a “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn.”

Since Roe v. Wade, at least 58 million unborn babies have been killed. Those are children that will never know a family. The media is virtually silent as to this holocaust of the unborn, yet often, so are we.  According to Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, “America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion.”

Do we see it??  Where have we had blinders on?  Are we allowing ourselves to be cognizant that babies are God’s creation and thus His?  Do we stop to think that each baby has a heart and soul and that while we can stop the heartbeat, the soul lives on?

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Luke 15:18

• Let us pray for the healing of all women who regret their abortion(s).
• Let us pray for each man who encouraged their girlfriend and/or wife to get an abortion or who remained silent, secretly relieved that they were released from any fatherly obligation.
• Let us pray for those who face an unplanned pregnancy and are scared or panicked; may they be surrounded by supportive love and thus choose life. 
• Let us pray that all each and every one be given eyes to see, a voice to speak up, and the heart to love with compassion.
• Let us pray that we are shaken from our apathetic silence, empowering us to support laws to protect the unborn.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19

Fortunately, we are blessed to have a God of MERCY!!!  Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

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

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for healing and a restoration of legal protection to the unborn. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Invited Guests)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

Most of you are quite familiar with Jesus' first miracle, which occurred during the wedding feast at Cana. A mother was teaching this story to her young son. "There was a wedding feast and the bride and groom ran out of wine at the reception. The Blessed Mother upon noting this, went to her son, Jesus, and said, 'They have no wine.' She then looked at the servant and said, 'Do whatever He tell you.' Unable to refuse any request from His mother, Jesus then changed the water into wine." Upon finishing this story, the mom then asked her young son, what he learned from this story. Thinking about it, the young son suddenly exclaimed, "Well, if anyone is going to get married, they should invite Jesus and Mary to the wedding!"

Amen!

When difficulties arise in marriage, perhaps only then do we see our true reliance on God. It is only in our need that we can be more cognizant of what he does in our lives and how much we need His grace. Let us the Lord for abundant grace while asking His mother to intercede and pray for us as well. In the quiet, let us hear her gentle voice, "Do whatever He tells you."

Obedience is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22

Lord, we pray for those who are planning to marry or are married and haven’t yet invited You into their relationship.  Lord, stir their hearts.  As they feel your nearness, may they beckon You to come closer. As they seek to know You, may they yearn to welcome You into their marriages and seek Your blessing.   Bless them and all married couples so that the life they live and the life they build is one that glorifies you.   Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Help someone to build a marriage upon the Rock. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (A Strong Beginning)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Marriage we know to be good, as it’s creator is God.  It was designed for the good of the couple and the good of their offspring, as its indissolubility would be the foundation for a stable family life. Yet many men and women, separated from Divine Love and steeped in self-love, seek relationships and children outside of marriage, seeing little need for a life-long commitment.

With this in mind, do you know what the #1 cause of childhood poverty is?   It’s the absence of married fathers in the home.  The culture has made it easy to have intimate relationships and childbearing sans marriage.  But those with the largest price to pay are the children.  They are either killed through abortion or are statistically more likely to be raised in poverty. 

We need divine assistance, as we are a fallen people.  Let us pray for a return to God’s perfect design. 

Lord, help men order their passions so that women are not just the object of their pleasures. Help men see the wisdom of marriage as a foundation for a stable family life for their children. Give fathers the grace and the heart to be available, invested, and committed to their children.

Lord, you designed women to be the life-bearers.  Give them loving hearts that seek to protect life.  Give them the wisdom to know the importance of fathers in their children’s life. Give women the grace to delay motherhood until after marriage, yet help them to also be accepting of children after marriage.  Open everyone’s eyes to your plan, one of union with a spouse, through You. 

Finally, protect your children in the midst of our dysfunction. Send them family, friends, and teachers whom know You, so that they may be introduced to your enduring love and kindness. 

As for me, I trust in Your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in your saving help. Psalm 13

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Everyone needs encouragement.  Let us rejoice in His saving help!  Pass it on.