Pray for Marriages (Sacrificed for Love)

Memorial Day

 

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

 

Like many, I had family in the military; father, cousin, mother-in-law, and father-in law.  But they all came home. While the war had scarred them in some way, when a veteran doesn’t come home, it scars the family.  A marriage is abruptly ended.  One is left with racing thoughts of what could have been. What should have been. 

 

Those in the U.S. Armed Forces volunteer to serve and protect all Americans. When sent to combat, they are not there on behalf of their families, but on behalf of us all. 

 

The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.  -  G.K. Chesterton

 

Today let’s pray for the healing of the widows and widowers, and their families. 

 

The real widow, who is all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 1 Timothy 5:5

 

Heavenly Father, in honor of those veterans who have sacrificed their very lives, may your arms of comfort extend to their widows/widowers/children. Not for a moment, but as long and as often as they need it. Bless them, bless their children, and may your grace be abundant throughout their lives.  May the rest of us never forget the sacrifices made for our God-given freedoms, and those who fight to preserve what men so often want to take away from us. May we frequently pause and pray for them, and give glory to you, source of all Love. 

 

Sing to God, praise his name; exalt the rider of the clouds. Rejoice before him whose name is the LORD. Father of the fatherless, defender of widows—God in his holy abode, God gives a home to the forsaken. Psalm 68: 5-7

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Offer a salute and a prayer. Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Truth or Lie?)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

 

Is it just me or is our world beginning to feel inverted?  Good is bad, bad is good, wrong is right and right is wrong.  Anger, animosity, and division is praised as goodness, and authentic love, love for another’s soul, is branded as hate. Violence is labeled as peaceful, but peaceful protests are labeled as violent. Truth is branded as conspiracy theory, but conspiratorial lies are branded as truth.  Absolutes are now relative.  1+1=3?!  The list is endless.  Who are these deceivers of the truth?!

 

You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.  John 8:44-45

 

How does one discern the truth? 

 

How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. John 14:6-7

 

If you do not know Jesus, you will only know the “father of lies”. To know your true Father, it’s crucial to know Jesus! How do we do that?  By reading scripture.  The Lord speaks personally to us through His Word. Communicate with Him in prayer, talking to Him as you would a friend. Hear Him in the silence.  

Do you and your family members allow time for silence?  Or, are you attached constantly to a phone, a tablet, computer, television or other forms of media?  What messages are you receiving through those portals? Are they bringing you truth or lies? Peace or anxiety?

 

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

 

Pray! Let Him be your peace, allow Him to be your joy, and open your heart to His love. Then may you be as a lampstand in your family, shining His light to all.

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

  

Truth: We all need prayer. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (A Perfect Reflection)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

There’s a real purpose to name-calling and finger-pointing. It prevents us from having to look at our own behavior. It’s the oldest technique there is. 

 

Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat? The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman: What is this you have done? The woman answered, “The snake tricked me, so I ate it.” Genesis 3:11-13

 

If it wasn’t for those around us, we’d be perfect, right, and a whole lot holier! Not so. 

 

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:3-5

 

In marriage, it’s easy to fall into this trap. We must acknowledge, however, that we choose our actions, our reactions, and our perspective on life. And our first action should always be examining ourselves.  We do that by gazing upon Jesus on the cross.  Are we imitating Christ?

 

Lord Jesus, the source of our salvation, you gave us the perfect example.  But you didn’t stop there for you knew our very selves.  You sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, poured down grace to elevate us, gave us your flesh and blood in the Eucharist to sustain us, and offered unending mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yet, how often do we spurn these gifts?? Reform our waywardness, transform our injured heart,, and conform us to your Holy Will. Bless all those who have committed to a holy union and need copious grace.  You are our forever hope.  Jesus, we love and trust in you!  Amen.

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

Hope does not disappoint. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (A Pentecost Moment)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

 

We pray and we pray as our prayers fragrantly rise to heaven. We wait and we wait for answers to illuminate our minds and to transfigure before us.  We pray for our family-focused intentions to materialize. 

 

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

 

Come Holy Spirit!

 

May this be the prayer you pray without ceasing all weekend. Pray for that Pentecost moment, when the fire of his love fills you, you transform from meek to bold in your mission, and peace fills your soul. 

 

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

 

So continue to pray for your family.  Know that I will be praying for your intentions too. God bless you all with his peace. 

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Send some Holy Spirit fire to illumine another’s soul. Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Perfected Love)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

 

God’s plan for marriage is sweet as honey, but there’s no honey without bees, and we can’t avoid the occasional sting near the hive!  Can’t you imagine the Lord formulating his plan, saying, “Let’s bring together a man and women who are different, yet similar. They are different enough due to their genders, but I think I’ll kick it up a notch so they will learn to grown in patience, wisdom, and fortitude. Let me bless them with children who mirror their childhood characteristics. Soon they will grow in empathy toward their own parents.  I will give them some struggles to bring about humility, so they will learn to depend on me and not themselves.” And so, it goes… 

 

Luckily, the Lord encourages us throughout our journey, and teaches us to love

 

If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. God is love and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. John 4:12, 16

 

Yet, our fallen humanity resists loving when we don’t feel like it.  The Lord never gives up on us, always guiding us in the way of perfection.

 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. John 4:18-19

 

We are weak, so he offers to strengthen us daily through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

 

And I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in truth. John 17:19

 

I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. John 17:22-23

 

What a blessing it is that Jesus prays to the Father on our behalf, and gives us the roadmap to perfection, Himself.

With gratitude, let us continue to rejoice in the blessing of each other’s prayers.  Keep praying for marriages!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

 

Help love grow. Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Active Prayer)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

 

Praying for your family is something I will always encourage, but spending time with them is the best prayer of all, for everyone has a deep desire to be heard and to be known. Find time this week or this month, to connect with those you love. Seek to better understand them.  Be an active listener.  Pray that the eyes of your heart will see them as the Lord sees them; as a treasured masterpiece!

 

If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him.  1 Corinthians 8:2-3

 

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. John 13:34

 

Pray, that the love in you might grow exponentially!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

May the love in you continue to be passed on!!

Pray for Marriages (Secured on the Rock)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

 

Joy abounds with each new beginning.  As communities both begin and continue to open up, couples are once again planning their weddings or looking forward to their “rescheduled” weddings.  The year of waiting must have tried these couples in many ways, but my prayer is that by weathering the storm, their relationship was strengthened, or conversely, dissolved for its lack of foundation. 

 

LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold! Psalm 18:3

 

Lord, bless those who are seeking this heavenly union. Fortify them for their journey. Bring into their lives, both heavenly and earthly witnesses of love, patience, kindness, and fidelity. Grant them the grace to humbly and continually invite you into their relationship, so that they may grow together as one. Support them when they stumble, pick them up when they fall, and lead them onto the path of holiness. May they praise and glorify your name forever!  Amen.

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Pray for all the engaged couples you know…and those you don’t!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

Wavering marriages are strengthened by prayer! Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Mutual Benefit)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

The treasure of a family is that they are always there for you.  They have your back.  (At least most of the time!). But just as you need their prayers, they need yours!  So pray without ceasing, for the efficacy of your prayers may benefit family more than you realize. Be focused and intentional, praying for  each family member.

 

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours.  John 17:9

 

Pray also for family members who appear to not need your prayers, for you never know the struggles and pain that lie hidden inside. 

 

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

 

Next, pray for extended family, especially those you’ve never understood, those who have ventured far from God, those who have been unkind to you, and those whose souls are in most jeopardy.  

 

“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” 

Luke 6:27-28

 

Pray also for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ, that they may remain strong in the faith despite increasing resistance.

 

Pray for those who don’t know the Lord, and for those who have rejected Him, that they may come to friendship with the Lord and repent. For how blessed we his children, who know that the greater the sin, the greater is God’s mercy!

 

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. 1 John 5;16

 

Pray for the dead.  God is outside of time, so it is never too late. Pray for the souls that have left this life, that they may spend eternity with the Lord!

 

Prayer really is the answer.  So keep answering!!  God bless you all!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

Prayer is the gift that keeps on giving! Pass it on!  

 

Pray for Marriages (The Hidden Blessings)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

 

The Lord tells us that marriage is an unbreakable covenant. Perhaps that is why in marriage, He makes the two, one, so that it becomes more difficult to separate and tear apart. That is the first blessing!

 

Did he not make them one, with flesh and spirit? And what does the One require? Godly offspring!  Malachi 2:15

 

This second blessing, children, becomes the glue, since their arrival brings new challenges to love and remain committed in the marriage.  Dying to oneself is very difficult in light of the hijacking your previous lifestyle. The grace given to let go of self-love is the third blessing.

 

New marital challenges continue throughout the years, consisting of joys, sorrows, and disappointments. In the lowest moments, when one contemplates or fantasizes about escaping it all, in the stillness and silence, the Lord enters in and whispers with much tenderness, (your name), do you love me?? This challenge is fourth blessing.

 

As more grace is offered, one’s humility grows, hopefully enabling them to surrender to the Lord’s will and give their fiat, “Thy will be done.” The fifth blessing is transformative.

 

Finding joy in the surrender is the next challenge.  With your prayer, more graces will flow and you will learn to find joy and peace during your trials if you offer it to God as a holocaust of your love. The sixth blessing enables your love to grow even more.

 

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. James 1:2-7

 

God will never forsake your fidelity to the marriage, your desire to run the race, your fervent prayer, and your unwavering love of Him. He may even bless you with numerous prayer warriors to help you persevere, grow in faith, and blossom in love.  What a blessing, number seven! :-)

 

May God abundantly bless your marriage and those marriages you lift up in prayer!

 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8    Pass it on!