Pray for Marriages (In Sickness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When you got married, did you recite traditional marriage vows which included the phrase “in sickness and in health”?  Did you ever ponder that “sickness’ could be anything more than fleeting? Did you ever consider that your spouse could end up with a chronic illness or major injury and that “love” could look very different? 

There are many spouses who do become caregivers to their beloved.  What a thing of beauty this can become.  A self-giving love mirroring Christ's love for us can become an awe-inspiring witness in our self-absorbed world.

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Trials are difficult whether one is willingly running the race or not.  Lift up your voices in prayer this week for those husbands or wives who are shouldering a heavy caregiving burden.

When they are exhausted, Lord, hold them in your comforting embrace. When they are lonely, Lord may they sense your unwavering presence and your immense love for them as sons and daughters of the Most High King. Most of all, Lord, help them to know that the prayers of others are lightening their burdens and that you will send your “angels” to lend a helping hand.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer can turn a burden into a song of praise.  Keep praying and pass it on!

Pray for Families (The Word in You)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When you are a parent, you never stop worrying about your kids, even when they become adults.   You desire the best for them and want them to have happy lives. To a Christian parent however, nothing is as unsettling as witnessing your child’s/children’s perceived independence from God. 

Words to your children probably won’t change their apathy, however the Word in you may eventually transform them.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.  John 15:1-5

We are reminded that our focus doesn’t need to be on what we need to change in another, but rather being open to what the Lord wants to change in us.  By allowing the Living Word to dwell in us, we become His conduit for the transformation of others.  So next time you feel you’ve been a little over-pruned or buried in the fertilizer of life, realize the Lord just may be using you to harvest his best bumper crop yet! 

Find a quiet moment to pray for your family that each member be firmly grafted on to the Vine. Then pray that you will discover true delight as a laborer for the Kingdom!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Beautiful fruit starts as but a tiny bud.  It’s time to bloom where planted and pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Future Marital Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

My young adult daughter was visiting this weekend and with it came the opportunity for me to see her friends, some of which I have known since childhood.  I love hearing about their journey of life; where they are now and where they hope to be.  One friend had just returned from being the Maid of Honor in a wedding.  While catching the bride’s bouquet used to be a prized feat, apparently that isn’t true today.  Her single friend related, “I saw the bouquet coming right at me and I was so flustered I dropped my beer!”  She went on to say that nobody wanted the bouquet.  “I’m not ready to take the step of living with my boyfriend yet, let alone marrying him!” she exclaimed. Several other friends discussed delaying marriage until they each had everything completely in order.  Living together was the middle ground.

While these sentiments are not unique to today, they are more common. It made me ponder the state of marriage today and in the future.  While it’s a good idea for both parties to be mature enough to enter into marriage, at what point does one become so absorbed in creating their own way of life that it becomes too difficult to compromise with another’s way?  As sex outside of marriage is commonplace and just a means of recreation, will true intimacy be possible within a marriage without first a change of heart? 

These are questions that I am not qualified to answer.  However, I do know though, that the youth of today need our prayers.  Out of love, let us continue to pray for marriage.

Set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 1 Peter 1:13-15

God our Father, we give you thanks for the gift of marriage: the bond of life and love, and the font of the family. The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children, fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service, and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church. The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother. May your Son, through the intercession of Mary, pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as we join with all people of good will to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage. May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife, and guide our leaders to sustain and protect the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children. Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary, that your Word may transform our service so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage. We ask all these things through Christ our Lord, Amen.*

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Prayer is a beautiful gift that is priceless.  Be a generous gift giver and continue to pass it on! 

* Prayer In Defense of Marriage

Pray for Families (Finding True Delight)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

In the last week I have had two people very close to me die.  I am reminded that our time here is very fleeting. I am reminded of the importance of living every day for the Lord so that His will be done, not mine.  I am reminded of the importance of family and the value of prayer. I am reminded that people don’t often remember what you said, but how you made them feel.

LORD, let me know my end, the number of my days that I may learn how frail I am. To be sure, you establish the expanse of my days; indeed, my life is as nothing before you. Every man is but a breath. Psalm 39:5-6

Keep us humble, Lord!

The LORD is my strength and my shield, in whom my heart trusts. I am helped, so my heart rejoices; with my song I praise him.  Psalm 28:7

What makes each of us special is not the success and notoriety we achieve here on earth, but how successful we are in helping others know the Lord.  

I delight to do your will, my God; your law is in my inner being!”  Psalm 40:9

Can one sense the Lord’s presence in you?  Do they sense your peace even in the midst of chaos?  If someone only watched you and never listened to you, what would your actions teach them?

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.  Matthew 6:21

Pray today for loved ones and family members who have passed away.  May a heavenly reward await them.  Pray also for your living family members, that with each passing day they may grow closer to the Lord. 

Lord, receive your departed children with warm, loving arms and a heart steeped in mercy. Jesus we trust in your merciful love!  May the living be forever changed by their life’s witness!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

One simple prayer can make all the difference.  One day you will learn why.   Say a prayer for another and pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Love and love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Think of your spouse when you first met, or if you aren’t yet married, anyone you have ever loved deeply. What were your actions?  Were you so enamored with them that you wanted to spend every minute you had with them? Did you constantly seek to know EVERYTHING about them?  Did you feel you were the luckiest person in the world when you were with them? Did you hang on every word they said?  Did you think your bliss was heavenly?

In contrast, how much time do you spend with Love Himself?  Do you make time to get to know Him?  Do you listen to His Word, contemplating and meditating on everything He tells you?  Do you have a hunger to get to know Him more? Do you yearn for quiet to hear his still, soft voice?  Have you spent enough time with Him to feel how deeply He loves you? Have you experienced His tenderness?  Do you find peace in His presence?

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For Love is strong as Death, longing is fierce as Sheol. Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine.  Song of Songs 8:6

Seek to more deeply know Divine Love, and take that fire into your marriage.  It only takes a heavenly spark to create an inferno.  May Love Eternal bless you in your marriage and keep the sparks flying!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Spend time with the Lord to keep the fires of love in your marriage burning brightly!  Pass it on!