Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Count your blessings. Cherish the sacrament of marriage. Continue to pray that marriages become the beautiful holy union that God envisioned. Have faith and don’t lose hope. You are loved!
With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Jeremiah 31:3
Praying for continued blessings upon your marriage and on those for which you pray!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
It’s your last chance this year to pass it on!
Greeting Prayer Warriors,
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:4-14
Merry Christmas to you and your families! Praying your receive heavenly gifts!
Wishing you Peace, Joy, and Love in abundance,
Janet
Prayer is a gift. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
May the Lord bless you mightily during the Christmas Season! May he be well pleased with your prayers for marriage, especially if you are praying for another. May you know the penetrating peace that was felt during the very first Christmas, the one that abolished fear and created an unimaginable sense of wonder. May your faith increase as you come to a deeper realization that even nature recognizes and glorifies his presence.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Luke 1:49
Find some quiet time for reflection, prayer, and thanksgiving. Know that I will be praying for all of you.
Merry Christmas! Cherish your family, and may your joy abound!
The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. Luke 2:10-11
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Peace, Joy, and Love is meant to be passed along! Keep sharing it!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Where has the gratitude gone? It seems to be evaporating in this world. Perhaps it is because so many have lost sight of our Creator and Savior. Maybe it’s because the younger generation hardly know Him since he’s been banned from public appearance for a while now! The middle aged, have found other treasures to love, and the older generation tries to hold on, but even some of them are losing faith.
As we approach Christmas and the time for giving, let us not focus so much on all we hope to receive, but instead, ready our hearts to share the gratitude for the gift of Christ. Have we made room for him in our heart yet? Now is the time to prepare as a family.
G.race-needed to move your heart. Pray!
R.eflect on your thoughts, words and deeds this year.
A.ttitude shift needed?
T.reasure-Where you spend your time…is it misaligned?
I.ntrospection-Continue to examine your heart
T.hank you’s- Who do you need to thank? Begin now!
U.plift your mind to that of the heavenly realm
D.esire for Him will increase with gratitude.
E.xaltation and Eucharistic Praise come forth!
This last week before Christmas, let us all pray that grace abounds, so that we will have hearts filled with gratitude and praise, singing
Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.
Luke 2:14
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Show your gratitude. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
All who are married have experienced the hills and the valleys of a journey together. Valleys can become very frustrating, demoralizing, and unsettling, especially when looking up the mountain desiring to reach the summit. It is here in the valley that the Lord demands the greatest faith, as that is when one may begin to question whether or not to continue the journey.
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 41:13
Lord, there are many who feel stranded or even abandoned in the valley. Perhaps their spouse has no desire to even make the effort to summit. Or perhaps their spouse is wandering or seeking other destinations. Lord help them to keep the faith and trust in your divine and perfect plan. Grant them the grace of perseverance, especially when their efforts feel hopeless. Shower them with blessings when they show love in the most trying circumstances. Grant them peace when they are overcome by worry, stress., or fear. Reward them with a marriage that can only be envisioned from the summit. Christ our healer and redeemer, hear our prayers. Amen.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Hope and a prayer; the perfect combo. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
This year has been a year that won’t be forgotten, although most would like to forget all of 2020! The lockdowns and total life disruptions are like none ever experienced. Each of you have been affected uniquely. Fear and anxiety have risen. Divisiveness, fueled by the media has created great divisions within many families, as disparate opinions on politics and pandemics seem no longer to be tolerated. Healthy debates and civil discourse have gone by the wayside. However, you mustn’t fall prey to the tactics of the devil, for he loves nothing more than to sow discord, especially within your family!
What a blessing it is though, that just before the year comes to a close, we have the privilege of celebrating the birth of Christ. Even as a child, Christ showed us the importance of total trust in the Father’s will. As the Messiah, he never promised us a smooth path to walk, but rather the opposite, asking us to pick up our cross and follow Him. As our Savior, he conquered death, opened the gate to heaven, and taught us what we must do to spend eternity with Him.
Living through hardship is all about perspective.
My hope is that each of you will be spending Christmas, with family, even if that means masks and protective measures. Begin now, praying for peace and harmony. Become the center of your family’s peace by keeping close to Christ. Live a holy, humble, and prayerful life. It WILL positively impact those around you. Maybe not now, maybe not next month or even next year, but one day, the Lord will see that it bears fruit in your family.
I am the LORD, your God, teaching you how to prevail, leading you on the way you should go. If only you would attend to my commandments, your peace would be like a river, your vindication like the waves of the sea, your descendants like the sand, the offspring of your loins like its grains, their name never cut off or blotted out from my presence. Isaiah 48:17-19
Lord, send us your peace, wrapping it around each family like a blanket. May your angels pluck out the seeds of discord, letting only love blossom. Keep anxiety at bay and help us not to endlessly worry, but to trust in your faithful promises. May we rejoice in your compassion and mercy as we place our family members in your hands. We rest in the fact that you can soften even the hardest hearts, "for with God, all things are possible".* Start with us! Jesus, we trust in You!
Peace, Love, and Joy,
Janet
Keep the Merry in Christmas! Pass it on!
*Mark 10:27
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.
Isaiah 35:4
A spark of love, a heart aflame,
True love we found, and were never the same!
Engagement quickly led to vows
with little discussion as to how
we’d deal with all the unplanned stress
of money, kids, and all the mess
that life can throw without compunction
unmasking all the marital dysfunction.
As we began our second guessing,
Life became oh so depressing!
But because we knelt before the Lord
and prayed for grace to be outpoured,
the journey never led to defeat
but rather a life that’s been complete.
For crosses often make us stumble,
and help us see we haven’t been humble.
We cry to You for mercy and love,
Which quickly comes from heaven above.
Never to hold but to be shared,
Within our marriage to show we care.
While life’s a boat that’s never steady
the Lord asks us to be at the ready
to answer him when he comes and asks
did you complete all the assigned tasks?
To love and nurture, uplift and praise
the spouse I gave you for all of your days?
And if we pause and contemplate,
finding true love is more than fate.
For He our Savior wants all of our heart
That we may never be apart.
So keep in prayer it is the leaven,
That prepares your soul for Love in heaven!
-Janet
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 6-7
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Keep praying and pass it on!
Greeting Prayer Warriors,
As we enter in to September, I pray for the health of your families and that all of you will be with family for Christmas, not isolated at the whim of some elected official. While much seems out of our control, all of you know the power of prayer, especially collective prayer such as ours. Each of you has individual needs and unique family circumstances. Today, we pray for each other, and the special intentions each of you have for your family. Most of all, that each may reawaken to the laws of the our Creator, so that they may experience TRUE freedom.
Reflect on the law of the Most High, and let his commandments be your constant study. Then he will enlighten your mind, and make you wise as you desire. Sirach 6:37
Lord, hear the prayers of each prayer warrior, and listen to the groans of their hearts. None have an easy walk, but each of their steps is made lighter and more delightful with your presence. Help each surrender to the fact that you have designed a unique cross for each one of them as well as their family members. Give all the courage to carry, embrace, and celebrate the cross that leads to eternal life. Strengthen them, hear them, and help them. May we support each other, as we walk in faith and hope of your everlasting promise. Amen.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Everyone needs prayer. Invite someone into this prayer circle! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
As we enter into Advent, I feel hopeful anticipation, perhaps tentative about just what Christmas will bring. I know I must prepare my heart first and foremost. I reflect on what Mary and Joseph must have felt as the impending birth of the Savior was only weeks away. I imagine they drew very close to each other, as their life as a couple was about to change from ordinary to extraordinary…in their eyes alone.
Isn’t’ that what each married couple longs for, a life that becomes extraordinary, even if it only appears so to them? Yet that is exactly what the Lord offers each of us if we only allow him to be born fully into our marriage!
My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Ezekiel 37:27
That is a lot to contemplate! Spend Advent reflecting on where He is allowed in your relationship and where you are closing the door to Him. Search your own heart first and encourage your spouse to do the same. Then discuss ways in which you as a couple welcome or resist His presence. What might you do to more fully prepare for His coming and staying? Will you make room for Him? For what could be a better gift than to exclaim on Christmas morning,
“We have found the Messiah” John 1:41
Pray for one another, that each will be prepared to receive the extraordinary this Christmas!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Plan for His extended stay! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Consider the time you spend every day complaining or moaning about something...or someone. Perhaps that someone is your spouse. What if instead, you focused on their strengths and praised what was good about them? Isn’t that what you hope they’d do for you? God has given each one of us unique gifts. Don’t complain about the gifts your spouse doesn't have, but rather celebrate the ones they do!
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
Lord, we praise you and thank you! You made men and women complementary, so that together they are more complete than when alone. Open our eyes to see the gifts we overlook in one another. Help us to encourage, build up, and praise each other for the acts of service, kindnesses, and sacrifices made on one another’s behalf. Help us give up the selfish for the selfless. May we recognize that our challenges with each other are your gifts to help us grow in patience, love and holiness. Bless our spouses. Bless all marriages! In you alone we trust! Amen.
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
Live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving, a most glorious prayer!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Thank your spouse, then thank God! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
Will he find faith within the family? Will he find one heart that loves Him and keeps His commands?
I always thought the answer to this was, “Well, of course!” but now, I am not so sure. For many, their faith is as delicate as a dandelion. With, any wind of change, it disappears in the breeze. For others their faith is much deeper, but the roots are rotting due to the erosion of once fertile soil. For others, it never really took root, as there were too many other more glamorous enticements before them. Still for others, they are dormant, wondering what ever happened to the diligent gardeners that would prune them, helping them to abundantly bear fruit. The Word was before them, but they lost sight.
The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. Luke 8:11-15
Lord, we humbly place our family before you, for these are confusing times. Everyone claims to proclaim the truth, but their viewpoints are opposing. Only in knowing you, we will know the truth! We pray that you will ignite/reignite the faith in each member of our family, providing just what we each need to continue the journey. Sometimes it appears to be two steps forward one step back. Keep us progressing forward! Strengthen our faith so that we may not become prey to Satan’s whispers. Minimize our frustration and preserve us from despair. Erase our doubts and cleanse our hearts from all that pushes you out. May the fire of your Spirit incinerate the darkness in our souls, as we seek to “clean house”. Then may your Word fully take root that we may persevere in the journey and bear fruit, for the destination is eternal life! Amen.
Sow the good seed and spread the Word!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
How often have you been in a situation where you said to yourself, “I don’t know what to do?!” How often in marriage have you asked yourself that same question? I think most would answer, “frequently”.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Revelation 2:3-5
Sometimes it is hard to put on heartfelt love and compassion. Patience and kindness are intentional. Let us be mindful that the simple thing to do is often one of great effort. But it is exactly what Christ modeled for us.
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. John 13:15
Lord, help us never to grow weary of imitating your love, patience, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Give us the light of faith to persevere down the path you have ordained for us. We pray for the grace needed to be your light in the dark moments of marriage so that together we can bring hope and light to all those who dwell in darkness. Jesus, we trust in your unwavering love and mercy!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Light begets light! Be a flame in your marriage! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
As COVID -19 cases seem to be resurging in major cities throughout the US and world, it’s a good reminder to pray for our families, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ, for I imagine there isn’t one of you who hasn’t know someone affected. Let us pray for their physical health plus everyone’s mental health as tighter restrictions of gatherings are re-emerging.
But for you who fear my name, the sun of justice will arise with healing in its wings. Malachi 3:20
Lord, we trust in your greater plan, but we ask for the grace to not waver. Protect our families, especially those who live at great distances from us, and if sick, renew them in their health and their faith. As anxiety and depression rise, call each softly to rest in your Sacred Heart or the Immaculate Heart of you Mother. Anchored to you, we will survive all tempests. Bless each member of our families and shine the light of faith into their hearts. Find the prayers of your humble servants pleasing and both hear and answer them. Jesus, we trust in you! Amen.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Luke 18:7-8
May the Lord answer our prayers and increase our faith!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Continue to talk to Him who always listens. Prayer is a conversation that the Lord never tires of! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
During the homily at Mass on Sunday, the priest gave an enlightening description of the physical space in the church which I’d like to share, understanding that the space in your church may be different. He said that the tabernacle on the altar represents heaven. The gates at the communion rail represent the gates of heaven. The nave, where the parishioners sit, represents the ship sailing towards heaven.
This description created a beautiful image. I visualized a ship with the winds of the Spirit filling its sails and journeying toward the Divine.
As I contemplated “church” my mind wandered to “domestic church”, which is the family home. If God is welcomed into our home and our marriage, He becomes the captain of that ship. However, it is not usual for any ship to experience great tempests. I next envisioned some spouses jumping off the ship (free will), and others while under the influence, falling off, but those who remained were carried to their heavenly destination.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
Storms within any church are difficult to weather. Let us pray that as the winds of change, the tsunami of life, and the quakes unsettle us, we may keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, and continue to allow Him to captain our ship. We pray that by focusing on His loving gaze we may never desire to leave and jump ship. May we become intoxicated only by His unwavering love and fidelity. Lord when we are nauseated by the rocky seas that swirl around us, may your hand calm the waters and bring us healing and peace. We surrender control. Come Lord Jesus, be our captain!
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. Revelation 21:3
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Heavenly hope is something to be shared. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
What a week! Never a dull moment! The election news and all that surrounds it is impacting the psyches of many. Add to that the uncertainty of what the nation’s future will be, and you have a recipe for anxiety, depression, and confusion. Yet, there is a recipe that steals the leaven from the former and instead gives rise to peace, joy, and love, a balm for the soul.
Prayer is a yeast that will lift the downtrodden. During these times, let us pray for peace and healing within our families while meditating upon God’s Word.
Lord, there is much that worries me, help me to find rest for my soul.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Help me to let go of the anxieties that oppress me.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Lord, be my shelter from all that swirls around me and robs me of my peace.
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
But the world seems topsy-turvy Lord!
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John 16:33
Lord, forgive us our trespasses!
With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Jeremiah 31:3
Praise and thanksgiving to Him who never abandons us. May we never abandon Him! Renewed by faith, may your prayers for one another continue to rise!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Be the leaven in the world! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Many of you are aware that November 2nd is All Souls Day, a time to pray for the dead. My heart turns toward loved ones who have passed. However, since I have developed the habit of praying for marriages on Mondays (I hope you have by now too), I am reminded that our job as a spouse is to get our partner to heaven. Perhaps that means not only praying copious prayers during the marriage, but ongoing prayers of supplication for our spouse upon their passing. It is the rare person who dies a saint, for we are all sinners, so let us amplify our prayers!
I encourage everyone to pray for souls all month long, until it becomes a habit, at which point you won’t want to stop! A priest said it best when he exclaimed, “There are no ingrates in heaven, so if you pray for souls today, they will reward you once they get to heaven!” So, for those of you who thought, “If I my spouse dies first, who’s going to pray for me?” you now have your answer!
Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. If he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.Thus, he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin. 2 Maccabees 12:42, 44-46
Since nothing unclean can stand before God, let us pray for the cleansing purgation of the dead, so that one day they will be with God forever in eternity.
If you need a prayer to get you started, here is an excellent one written by St. Gertrude.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
Keep praying for marriages too, so that one day each spouse may be given their glorious crown in heaven!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Prayer is a gift of eternal value. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
We are on the precipice. Of what, I am not quite sure. I sense change is coming, but in what capacity? Now is not a time for worry, but a time for hope. We have a Savior who is loving, merciful, and never leaves us. Thus, if we don’t feel close to Him, guess who moved?! Perhaps the change coming is the winds of grace to move us closer to Him. Have you moved away from Truth? Would you recognize Truth? What about your family members?
With a bombardment of messages from all forms of media, how does one discern the Truth? One begins by turning off and turning away from all that useless noise. While your anxiety may temporarily rise from the “withdrawal”, it will quickly lower if you open scripture. Scripture is the Living Word, the Word made Flesh.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Spend time in the Word and you will come to know The Truth. Spend time with Him and you will know Peace. You will no longer worry about the number of “likes” you are getting on social media, because once you experience Love, “likes” will not satiate.
Pray for yourselves, that you may be grounded in The Truth.
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
Pray for your family, especially those who have strayed from Truth and no longer recognize it. May grace abound and the ears of their hearts be open, allowing them to recognize the voice of the Shepherd.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16
We must pray for our country, a positive result in the election, and the preservation of our freedom to love and serve the Lord. Vote!
They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him.
2 Peter 2:19
Pray for the unity of all God’s children which is only possible in Him and through Him.
Living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Marriage is a journey that the Lord has mapped out for each one whom he has called to this vocation. He draws couples together through love and then creates a path of “perfection” for their journey together. He blesses many with children and while children are a source of joy, they also are sources of our virtuous growth. And my oh my can it be trying to grow in the virtues!
Be fertile and multiply. Genesis 1:28
This week, let pray for younger couples who are expecting their first child or those growing their family.
Lord strengthen and nourish these couples for the journey. Bless them with the grace and wisdom to stay the course, discipline their children, and protect them from all that is destructively alluring. Give them the fortitude and perseverance needed for the sleepless nights with sick children and those who may have special needs. And throughout their journey, let not these couples drift apart, but rather be the third strand, forever strengthening them.
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Ecclesiastes 4:12
Finally Lord, show them the power of prayer and make them warriors!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Prayer lifts hearts! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
No matter where you live now, there is always an inner call to return to your childhood home, if only for a brief visit. Memories of family, fun, innocence, and perhaps crazy times bring a sense of nostalgia, peace, and laughter, although for some, it may hold darker memories of what should never be.
On this feast of St. John of Capistrano, aka San Juan Capistrano, I am reminded how the swallows return annually to their mission home. We too have a distant home, for we were not made for this world, but rather to complete our journey here so that we may live forever with God in the next. Thus, let us use our time here wisely to prepare. Let us examine our life and make amends. Let us purge ourselves of pride so that we may grow in humility. Let us cleanse our soul in the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that we may be refueled by grace to continue on the journey. If we are not Catholic or have no access to the sacrament, let us kneel in humility and ask for the light of grace to recognize and acknowledge our sins and beg His mercy and forgiveness. Then, the gates of our eternal home will be opened wide for us. Our true and perfect home awaits.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In [those] days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be [also] at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:36-39
Stay in prayer for one another and for your families, that you may not put off until tomorrow, what may be important for today. Sin blinds, grace opens our eyes. May our collective ark of prayers be lifted by grace, and save us from the storms that rage.
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call. Ephesians 4:1-4
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Have mercy and forgive and most of all, pray for one another. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Everyone can pinpoint in moment or time in their lives where they have experienced a trauma of some sort, whether it be mild or major or somewhere in between. Perhaps it was a name-calling, a slight, a betrayal, or something larger like repeated physical or emotional abuse. While painful and confusing, it greatly disturbs one’s sense of peace, their ability to trust, and their perception of others.
Each of us unconsciously bring our unique wounds into our relationships, and undoubtedly obtain a few more figurative bruises in the process. Perhaps we aren’t even aware that our anger with our spouse is often about our old unresolved wounds. Conversely perhaps their sensitivity about certain subjects or communication style stems from their own wounds. Consider how wounds from abandonment, beatings, verbal abuse, neglect, etc. can impact one’s ability to trust and bond with their spouse.
Seeking counseling is like going through a car wash; it can cleanse your mind and help you see more clearly. Seeking and receiving grace from the Divine Healer will be what powers you through.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:18-19
Together, let us pray for all those actions that may bring about healing.
Lord, illumine our minds and help us to identify and name our wounds. We now unite those wounds with yours, lay them at the foot of the cross, and denounce them. May they no longer be harmful to us and our relationships, but efficacious by your grace. May they be but a holocaust of love offered for our spouse. We pray that our spouse be able to do the same, but until that time that they are able to receive your grace, we pray for their healing of mind, body, and spirit. Lord, give us courage to seek counseling if our wounds overwhelm us. Guide us in that pursuit, opening the doors to good and gifted counselors. Give us the faith to trust in your healing grace and the confidence to leave our wounds at the foot of the cross. Amen.
My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
May by your grace, we remain empowered to pray ceaselessly for healing in marriages. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Look at a time in your life where sin was greatly present. Chances are you didn’t recognize the gravity of your sin, and justified your actions/behaviors by telling yourself that you were a good person. Of course, you are “good” as everything God creates is good, but that doesn’t mean behaviors chosen are good. Unfortunately, sin obscures one’s vision and makes it harder to recognize evil.
Darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess. Ephesians 4:17-18
The great news is that the Lord never stops encouraging the sinner to come to Him. He beckons, offering to fill our emptiness with his peace. He promises to penetrate our aching hearts and fill it with his Love. He enters in, regardless of the state of one’s “house” even if he only hears the weakest “yes” to his knock. He will help you “clean house”, showing you the path to holiness and providing companions for your journey. No one is outside of his reach, for He longs for a relationship with all of His children, so much so that He offered His life for each and every one of us.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8
You are not alone if you worry about the salvation of your family, loved ones, or yourself. Together we pray:
Lord, you know us through and through. You know each and every soul we worry about. We ask for an outpouring of grace for those we love who remain far away from you. We also ask for those who may think they are close to you, but in action greatly offend you. Loving God, with admitted difficulty, we ask your grace on those who are hardest to pray for; those who upset us, annoy us, despise us, or hurt us verbally, emotionally, or physically. Humbly, we ask for ourselves too. Heavenly Father, in your compassion, remove our blinders enabling true conversion. Help all of us to utter a “yes” to your open invitation to follow you. In your mercy, bring healing to our woundedness, replace our anxiety with your peace, transform our hearts with your love, and make us your ambassadors in this world, which so greatly needs you. In doing so, we pray that with your abundant grace, we may one day all live as one for the glory of your name. Amen.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
Be joyful! God is good, all the time!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Encourage someone to answer the knock. Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
It’s been said that the qualities that drew you to your spouse are often the same qualities that become a challenge later in your marriage. Let’s explore what that might look like. You adored your fiancé’s generosity, but now that you’re married, they can be a little too generous with others. You loved being the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress, but as a spouse, are you now weary of the rescue? You adored that your significant other was the life of the party and a stranger to no one, but now that you’re married, are you feeling like you are the only one not getting any of the attention?
Our first responsibility is to look in the mirror before pointing a finger. What self are we presenting to our spouse?
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Christ shows us that love is dying to self for the good of another and ultimately for the glory of God. Undoubtedly easy to say, hard to execute.
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
Be bold! God has bestowed gifts on each of us. Are you using your gifts for the good of your spouse? Are you up to the challenge?
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 1 Timothy 1:7
Make a commitment to place your trust in the Lord, hope in his promises, and love your spouse daily.
My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee. Help me to love my spouse with a love as pure, gentle, and sacrificial as yours. May my love be active, not passive. Have mercy on me when I miss the mark, and give me the courage to begin anew each day. Jesus, I trust in your unending grace! Amen.
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
It all starts with a “yes!” Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Satan is the great divider and he loves to sow division, especially within the family. While a family may appear united when its children are all dependents, when adolescents reach adulthood, independence brings exploration, new perspectives, and sometimes the treading of dangerous paths. The Evil One encourages all those things that feel delightful yet leave one vulnerable and far from God. A parent’s challenge is to love their children back into the Light, through gentleness, truthfulness, and compassion. This may be difficult, especially when the urge is to launch into full “parent mode” (lectures). Monologues never work as they are sure to shut the door, but an open heart is like a window which allows for a gentle flow of conversation where one can shoot the breeze when the Spirit leads.
Yet Truth must always be brought into the situation, if not by word, then through prayer.
As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you and to teach you the good and right way. 1 Samuel 12:23
Lord, our children regardless of age, will always be faced with joys and sorrows which we as parents share in. They will face temptations, challenges, heartaches, and losses. As their parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or friend, may we never cease praying for them. May we not judge them, but reflect your Love all the more when they stray. May we encourage righteousness, without demoralizing them. May we lift them up rather than demean decisions and choices. If their faith is weak, may we become emboldened in ours, praying ceaselessly on their behalf. Grant them mercy, light and truth, opening their hearts to know and receive your Love, so that they may never want to leave its warmth again. Jesus, we trust in You!
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:16, 19-20
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Pray for one another! Pass it on!
Greetings Prayer Warriors,
For each one of you and your loved ones, I pray. I have no idea if you are married, never married, engaged, divorced, or widowed. Perhaps your prayers are not for yourself, but for those couples you hold dear. After sending these emails and blogging for almost 11 years, I have to trust that through our collective prayers, some marriages were healed, strengthened, or at least given the grace to continue.
For those who pray, it is easy at times to feel like one’s prayer isn’t heard. The Lord hears each and every prayer, for He loves to hear the voice of His children! He responds, however not always with the answer we were hoping for! God in his wisdom knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Sometimes he allows suffering to sanctify us, humble us, and build our endurance. He continues to silently lead us, while showing mercy to us and our loved ones.
God does not withdraw his mercy, nor permit even one of his promises to fail. He does not uproot the posterity of the chosen, nor destroy the offspring of his friends. Sirach 47:22
Lord, in your great mercy, you hear us and provide exactly what we need. Whenever we humble ourselves and seek your mercy, you forgive us all our trespasses, such as episodes of unkindness, hurtful words, unforgiveness, unchastity, pride, anger, envy, and all else that is abominable in your sight. May your mercy continue to flow through each marriage creating a more merciful love within us. May we never doubt you, but always praise you for your mercy!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Mercy. Pass it on!