Pray for Families (Time Well Spent)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The story of Martha and Mary in the bible is really worth pondering.  Martha is busy playing hostess serving everyone and is resentful of her sister, Mary, who instead of helping, sits at the feet of Jesus.  

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Luke 10:40

My guess is more people can relate to Martha in this scenario than to Mary. In the role of a parent and/or spouse, we are always doing for others. Someone is always in need of us. We are busy! We love the Lord, and serve him by serving others, right?  Admittedly, who doesn’t “pray on the go” as a form of time management?!

But the Lord is asking us to take time to be still in his presence. To let him lighten your burden.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

We don’t seem to understand the importance and power of resting in the Lord. He will refresh us. He will help us grasp what is truly of value. By recharging in him, we will be better able to be present to our family and others. He is asking that we put him first.

Put yourselves in Martha’s shoes and hear the Lord speak to you.

The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10: 41-42

Where are you abandoning time with the Lord, to get things done? Make time for him so that you may be a more perfect reflection of him to your family. May your family see your faithful witness, so that one day they too will see the value of 1-1 time with the Lord. Now that is prayer in action! Pray much for family!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

A life well lived glorifies the Lord, but it must include time with him. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Patience, Hope, and Faith)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The Lord works in ways we don’t understand. Many of you have probably prayed a long time for a particular marriage or perhaps several marriages, but fail to see the fruit of your prayer.  Do not give up whether you are the prayer warrior, the recipient, or both!

Since my heart was embittered and my soul deeply wounded, I was stupid and could not understand; I was like a brute beast in your presence. Yet I am always with you; you take hold of my right hand. With your counsel you guide me, and at the end receive me with honor. Whom else have I in the heavens? Psalms 73:21--25

The Lord may be hidden, but he is never absent.  He is unseen but not inactive. His presence may not be felt, but his heart embraces you with love.  Everytime you misstep, he awaits you with his mercy. 

I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Lord, we lift up all marriages, especially those in most need. Work your miracles there, so that all may see your power, compassion, and goodness.  Most of all, give us patience, hope, and a greater faith as we continue our commitment  to prayer.  

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Show his love. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Choosing Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Families can appear in harmony until really tested. Perhaps they are first challenged as they come together over the illness of a parent. Tensions rise after they have lost both their parents and are dealing with settling their estate. 

The crucible for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the tester of hearts is the Lord. Proverbs 17:3

Satan sees an opportunity for a great divide as he puts each family member to the test.“You deserve more,” he tells them. “Things aren’t fair; fight for what is yours!” The messages continue to fill your head.  How will you respond? Will you allow relationships to be destroyed? God or mammon? 

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  

Luke 16:10-13

It is so easy to lose sight of what is important in life, especially the gift of family. When a patriarch and/or matriarch dies, the impact to the family may feel like the earth fell off its axis. Emotional chaos can ensue, and one’s worst self can appear. Prayer is needed, seeking  the grace and clarity to follow the will of God, be attentive to his promptings, and continue to love all those around us dealing with the same loss. 

Lord, we are weak, self-absorbed, and prone to fighting for all we think we deserve in this life. If we look at the crucifix, we can clearly see we deserve nothing. But you gave us the greatest gift, the gift of eternity. Help us to accept that gift and never to carelessly throw it away, by turning away from you and toward sin. Protect us from greed, self-righteousness, pride, envy, anger, vindictiveness, and hate, but when we slip into bad behaviors, grant us the humility to ask others, as well as you for forgiveness. You are our hope. You are all we truly need. Jesus, we trust in you!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Choose Love, by choosing to love. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Self Reflection)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The beauty of the under-utilized sacrament of Confession is it forces one to self reflect; not superficially, but deeply. It forces a self-inventory. How are you living, behaving, interacting and talking? This is in context to any relationship, but for now, view it in light of your marital relationship.

Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. Ephesians 5:15-17

Marriage calls for us to serve one another, helping one’s spouse on the road to holiness. Sometimes you have to pull your spouse out of hell before you can even point them toward holiness!

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:22

Marriage calls for a reciprocity of self-giving, and it’s not always 50-50.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her. So [also]husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:25

The previous is worth pondering. If the two become one in marriage, you must first love and accept yourself or you will never be able to truly love and accept your spouse. If you suffer from self-loathing or self-doubt, ask the Lord to show you why He loves you so.

Much prayer, fasting, and sacrifice is needed to achieve the heavenly ideal of marriage. You never walk alone. We are here to pray for each other, especially those who have lost hope and cannot bring themselves to even pray. May our prayers and sacrifices lift those who stumble, and encourage those who are weary from their journey.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Everything is fathomable when you have prayer warriors. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Growth in Wisdom)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Family is such a gift, but sometimes loving family is hard. Someone always has a rough edge, a harsh tone, ingratitude, a lack of charity, or another trait that can grate. Regardless, Jesus always calls us to love.

To prepare ourselves, we must stay steeped in prayer, for we know our own weaknesses. 

Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. Wisdom 7:7

Let’s continue to lift each other up in prayer, and pray for wisdom. May by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit we become beacons of light for our families, especially those members who dwell in darkness.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Encourage another to be steadfast in prayer. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Gifts not Gaps)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Since I’m on vacation, I will keep this to a short reminder!

Look for your spouses gifts, not their gaps.  Be kind and attentive to one another. 

Pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray for marriages, especially those in most need. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray, pray, pray, and then pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Renewal in the Stillness)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Now that summer is in full swing, many have taken a vacation, are on one, or have plans for one.  Whether yours is simple or grand, it is important to spend some leisure time to refresh, regroup, and reconnect with your family both physically, emotionally,  and spiritually.  When we remove ourselves from stressors, we return to being our authentic selves, one that best reflects the image and likeness of God. 

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:2

Lord, we pray for the ability to quiet our minds, and be present to those in our lives.  Help us to focus on the other and let go of the running to-do list in our minds.  Quiet our souls, so that we can live in the moment and see the love and  joy you want to bestow upon us..   Protect us as we travel, and direct  your angels to guide us along the way.  Bless us with the graces needed to form lasting bonds and cherished memories with our family members.  Jesus, we trust in your everlasting love! Amen.

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

Pray for one another.  And if you can’t be with family due to circumstances, connect your heart to them in prayer and ask the Lord to shower them in graces that renew.

May I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.  Philomen 1:20

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet 

Be still, and then challenge another to do the  same.  Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Loving as we Ought)

 Independence Day, USA

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We who are in the United States of America are richly blessed because our Constitution grants us freedoms other countries do not have.  Thus, we need to be a beacon of hope for others.

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.  

Galatians 5:13

With this God-given freedom, we are not obliged to do what we want, but what we ought.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

As married couples, we need to witness the love of Christ. We do this by being hopeful, joyful, and loving, even during the times the relationship may be challenged. 

For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. 1 Peter 2:15-16

Let’s continue to pray for the fortification of each other's marriages, as well as those couples we hold in our hearts!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Nurture faith, hope and love. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Play and Pray)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Long weekends are for spending time with family. Use it to play, but don’t forget to pray, especially prayers of thanksgiving!

For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Gratitude and perspective. Pass it on!