Pray for Families (The Twilight Years)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Our daily worries for family span a great expanse, but I don’t think we have ever focused on our senior family members, especially those in their twilight years. They have seen all, experienced much, and are not immune from having their faith shaken. 

But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power.  Reject them. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

How different and confusing this generation must seem to the elderly!! The cultural norms have changed, as well as the religious ones. Respect for authority has diminished, morality is at an all time low, and God has been generally benched!  

But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Lord, we lift up our beloved elderly and ask for abundant graces. Comfort them as they suffer through their physical ailments and limitations. Be their protection when their faith wavers. Send friends and family when they feel alone, confused, and abandoned. Grant them the grace of perseverance to the end and multiply your mercy and love in their lives!  Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray for and visit the elderly. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (A Treasured Gift)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

God treasures all his children and thus loves when you make time to talk with Him about your joys, sorrows, hopes and desires..

Make

A

Resolution 

Respectfully 

Inviting 

Abundant 

Grace 

Everyday

Who doesn’t welcome the gift of prayer? Pray for those marriates most in need, especially the silent sufferers.

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

Treasure your prayer time!

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Love is praying for self and others. Love more and pass it on!

Pray for Families (Courage to Carry and Intercede)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Undoubtedly, the Christian life is the way of the cross.  Our daily challenge is mustering up the courage to pick up the unique cross or crosses we’ve been given for our sanctification. Through our daily yeses, we may also obtain graces for those family members who may not have the desire or strength to pick up their own cross.

For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:11-12

So may your yes mean yes! Uniting your will to His, makes your entire life a beautiful prayer of submission. We are not powerless, but given the power to effect change.

So may your yes mean yes! Uniting your will to His, makes your entire life a beautiful prayer of submission. We are not powerless, but given the power to effect change. Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. James 5:16

Make each day a living prayer!

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Pray always and pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Faith and Virtue)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

When God created the permanency of marriage, he knew if he didn’t set that expectation, most marriages wouldn’t last! Anyone who has made it past the honeymoon stage has had days when they would have eagerly walked out and never looked back! Luckily, the Lord doesn’t leave us to our own self-centered desires, for he has promised to always be our strength. He longs that we be devoted to him first so he may give us all the graces we need to grow in virtue, thus becoming better at fulfilling our vocation as spouses.  

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.  If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 5-8

The closer we grow to him who is Love, the greater our desire to imitate Christ will be. Alone we are weak (and wimpy)! United to him, our hearts will grow, allowing a purer, less adulterated love to flow forth, healing wounds we never realized we created. 

Pray for one another, that each may draw closer to Christ, experience the healing gift of his love, grow in virtue, and be renewed, inspired, and empowered in their marital commitment. 

Our collective prayers have power, so let your voices be heard!

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Pray, pray, pray, and you will stay, stay, stay! Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Joy in the Stillness)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We are a culture wired to go, go, go!  So much to do, so little time!!   Currently, I am  blessed to be gifted with some extended time off.  My biggest challenge yet is to resist the urge to fill every minute with activity.  How might I be still long enough to savor the beauty of all of God’s creation? How might I quiet myself to heart the whisper of God and not just do all the talking? How might I integrate more quiet and stillness into my life? What impact will this have on my family, my relationships?

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

Stillness is a challenge.  Even nature needs to be called out sometimes!

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”  The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Mark 4:39-40

Is our busyness a lack of faith?  Do we delude ourselves into believing our activity means we are in control? Are we indirectly or directly telling God, “I’ve got this. I no longer need your help or trust that you will help me! I’ll call you if I mess up!” Or rather, do we humble ourselves, and admit we need the Lord’s help in all aspects of our lives, especially in the feeding, sheltering, care, and protection of our families? Do we have faith enough to expect a response?

Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. John 16:24

Have you noticed that certain people bring you peace? They tend to be calm, quiet, and prayerful  people. Consider the impact your stillness will have on those around you, especially your family. This is not a call to dereliction of duty, but a call to prioritize stillness in your day.  What kinetic busyness can you surrender to God?  Take this slice of time and instead, use it to pray and be present for your family members.  Even better, make this a time for family prayer.

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. Romans 15:33

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Find new joy in the quiet and the stillness.  Pass it on. 

Pray for Marriages (The Power of Praise)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Do you ever get stuck on the Complain Train? It may not even be audible, but sometimes just runs as a continual loop in your brain? You only see all that is wrong with your life and your marriage. You replay old arguments, conflicts in parenting, opposing viewpoints, and on and on. Nothing about it propels you forward, but returns you to the station from which you departed: Whinyville.

Do not complain... about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. James 5:9

Don’t be so busy carrying the past that you can’t live in the present. Put that baggage on the train and let it leave without you! You have no use for it if you are seeking peace, joy, and healing. Each day is a gift! Don’t let it pass without being open to what God has in store for you. Some days you will be disappointed. Perhaps he is giving you a cross to help you grow in virtue. Other days, you may find yourself blessed beyond measure. Such is the Lord, giving each of us what we need when we need it!

For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning. 

Philippians 2:13-14

Instead, get in the habit of praise! Start by praising God for 5 minutes a day and then praise your spouse for at least half that time. Increase the time each day for both the Lord and your spouse. Change will occur in both you and your spouse without your immediately realizing it. There is power in positivity! Prayers of praise to God, daily praise and affirmations to your spouse are a winning combination that bypasses Whinyville and takes you nonstop to Mount Gratitude. Aim for the heights! Keep praying!

“Arise, bless the LORD, your God, from eternity to eternity!” “And may they bless your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.”  Nehemiah 9:5

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Praise changes hearts. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Running the Race)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Many of you worry about the faith of your loved ones.  I know I do.  In this world where evil continues to grab power, we Christians have to become bolder about our faith, sharing the Truth.  So many people are in need of hearing the Good News. Of course it’s easy to worry that you're not equipped, that you don’t have a silver tongue, and that you don’t like to proselytize. Have faith that the Lord will honor your desire and provide you with the actions, words, and deeds.  While you are worrying, Satan’s minions are grabbing souls!  Be inspired by the words of St. Paul. 

To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthian 9:22-27

Bold words!  Are we striving for the imperishable crown for us and our families? Do we support other families, since often people will only listen to non-family?.  Are we praying and fasting for the grace that  all of our family members need? Are we witnessing to the Truth and countering the lies? 

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when  you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?  Isaiah 58:6-7

First, commit or recommit to running the race and living in the Divine Will.  Then begin training.  Even a long-distance runner  starts with just stretching and running short distances.  The Lord will help you if you surrender your will to Him.  You’ve got this! 

Commit. Pray.  Fast.  Believe!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Every victory begins with a first step or a recommitment to trying again. Pass it on!

Pray for Marriages (Removing Obstacles)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Marriage sounds so easy in principle. If both spouses always led with kindness, patience, love, and self-giving, it would be! But we get tripped up by our pride, vanity, ego, self-righteousness and stubbornness ... just for starters! It’s like they are wicked friends we kind of like and then keep inviting over! Then we realize the chaos they create in our relationship and can’t seem to show them the exit! Additionally, how often do we try to cut ties with their cousins, anger and resentment, just to reconnect again! They are tools of destruction! Lay these at the foot of the cross so that the precious blood of Jesus can wash them away and restore your peace.

If you are in a  laborious cycle in your marriage, labor more in prayer and you will have greater success in your marriage as the Lord bestows more grace upon you. Lead with kindness, patience, love, encouragement, and positivity, and you will be more pleasing to both your spouse and the Lord.

For to the one who pleases God, he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. Ecclesiastes 2:26

Lord, as weak and as broken as we often are, you remain our rock. When we have given all we can, your strength upholds us. When we are filled with doubt, you fill us with confidence in you. When we are our worst selves, you show us your love, motivating us to change for the better. When we embrace vices, not virtues, help us loosen our grip. Lead us, Lord, as we seek stronger, holier, happier relationships with our spouses. Grant us the grace to see them through your eyes, love them with a heart like yours, and forgive them as often as you forgive us. You are an awesome God and we praise your name!

Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! His mercy for us is strong; the faithfulness of the LORD is forever. Hallelujah! Psalms 117:1-2

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

In prayers of gratitude, praise the Lord, the great sustainer!  Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (Grace of Conversion)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We all have relatives and friends we worry about, especially their salvation due to the bad choices they make in life. 

Though I say to the wicked man that he shall surely die, if he turns away from his sin and does what is right and just, giving back pledges, restoring stolen goods, living by the statutes that bring life, and doing no wrong, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins he committed shall be held against him; he has done what is right and just, he shall surely live. 

Ezekiel 33:14-16

Let us pray and sacrifice on their behalf, asking God for the grace of their conversion, and that they may praise the Lord forever more. 

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Add self-sacrifice to prayer to increase its efficacy! Pass it on!