Pray for Marriages (Be-Attitude Positive)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

There are lots of ways one can “be” over the holidays that cover a whole range of attitudes.  Some are less than attractive and hardly Christ-like.  Yet, one’s attitude can depend on one’s situation, and that can shift daily especially during the holidays. 

Prayer time is especially important during the holidays where ironically it can be squeezed out. Dispositions shift without prayer (at least mine does) so carve out that daily time! Hold on to your attitude of gratitude, and it will serve you well as you guard your actions and speech.  For inspiration, meditate on the beatitudes and you will learn how to be too blessed to be stressed.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:3-12

Be positive, stay positive, remain in prayer and His peace guard your hearts.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

You never walk along when you have prayer warriors. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Positivity, Gratitude, and Praise)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Why is it that our focus so often drifts to what is going wrong in our lives versus what is going right?  Most likely because negative things consume our thoughts more! But if we are honest, blessings predominate in our lives!   

Do not let love and fidelity forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Proverbs 3:3

The challenge for this weekend is simple. Each morning (or evening) recount your blessings and praise God. Trust He will help you with the rest, knowing His ways are not our ways, but certainly the ways of a loving Father. 

Spend the weekend praying prayers of gratitude and praise.  Bring others in, especially family. Be positive in your speech and it will spread! 

Have a blessed weekend!  

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet 

Praise and gratitude are a winning combination. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Gaining Sight)

 Greeting Prayer Warriors,

Now as he [Jesus]approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. Luke 18:35-43

In life, and in marriage, we are the blind man, only we don’t know we can’t see! Our words, our behavior, our tone, and our lack of charity towards our spouse can be glaring…to THEM. 

Spend some time in prayer, asking the Lord for your sight. Or if you have the courage, ask your spouse where your blind spots are.  If you are Catholic, consider the sacrament of Reconciliation. His grace will continue to open your eyes.

Then in praise and thanksgiving, give all glory and honor to Him!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Increase in love and gratitude. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Thanksgiving Actions)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The holidays are rapidly approaching as Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and then we will feel the full force (stress) of the commercial celebration of “holiday”.  Yet, let us keep our focus on Christ and receive His gift of 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

Peace will lead to joy.

Worry weighs down the heart, but a kind word gives it joy. Proverbs 12:25

Let us focus on kind words, kind gestures, and spreading joy.

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

Let us be grateful for the grace we receive and give praise to God! 

Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8

Peace, kindness, praise, and joy: these are the best family prayers of all!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Peace and calm. Pass it on!  

Pray for Families (The Perpetual Parent of Prayer)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

When I had young children, and then teenagers, I dreamed of the day I would become an empty-nester and get “my” life back. Then I became an empty-nester, and thought I had freedom at last. Yet, I soon began to count the days until my children would come home and visit.

In their absence, it really hits home how important family is. It becomes clear how much joy they continue to bring to your life. They helped to mold you and define you as much as you molded them and helped them find their true identity, (hopefully, as beloved children of God). Not just that, each one challenged you, strengthened you, brought discipline to your schedule, and helped you grow in the virtues, especially patience, just to name a few.   

Now is the time to pray that the holy seeds you planted in them will germinate. If their faith is but the size of a mustard seed, pray that it will quickly grow.  

Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:7

Pray for their spouses or future spouses. Pray for your grandchildren or future grandchildren. Pray for those still at home adjusting to a quieter, more still home in the absence of older siblings. Pray that you will never tire of praying. Be a living witness to your faith.

What we have heard and know; things our ancestors have recounted to us. We do not keep them from our children; we recount them to the next generation, the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD and his strength, the wonders that he performed. God made a decree in Jacob, established a law in Israel: Which he commanded our ancestors, they were to teach their children; That the next generation might come to know, children yet to be born. In turn they were to recount them to their children, that they too might put their confidence in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments. Psalms 78:3-7

Trust in the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness as you pray for this generation and the next.   

“I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

The need for a praying parent never changes. Keep the faith and pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Keeping Pride in Check)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

By nature we are prone to disagree, spar with, and challenge people, especially our spouse. Challenging another can help them grow, but we get into trouble when our pride is greater than our humility. [Or so I hear.  ;-) ]  When a vice outweighs a virtue, it is a wake up call that WE need to grow, and this begins with reassessing our relationship to God. Perhaps we’ve been relying more on our will than His. 

When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Are you lacking in wisdom? Need to nourish your humility? Here is a sampling of suggestions from an expert, St. Teresa of Calcutta, aka Mother Teresa.

• Accept small irritations with good humor
• Do not dwell on the faults of others
• Give in to the will of others
• Accept insults and injuries
• Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone
• Give in, in discussions, even when you are right

Plus a pearl that can help with the growth of humility, “Sacrifice is the inversion of malice.” Show love through sacrifice.

Swallowing one’s pride is not an easy task, but much more palatable when one starts with prayer. Pray, then ask the Lord to help you imitate him so that you may grow in virtue.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Psalm 145:8

Please note, none of the above should imply that you suffer abuse, verbally or physically, but rather, you humbly tolerate and become less reactive to provocation and insults.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. Colossians 3:12-13

Peace, Joy, and Love, 

Janet

Help one another grow in virtue. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (The Living and the Dead)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

On All Souls Day, I went to Mass to pray for my departed relatives and ancestors.  When sharing this with a Protestant relative, I was asked, “Why are you praying for the dead, aren’t they already in heaven?” That was a sincere question, and one many Protestants would have. 

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. 1 Maccabees 12:44-45

No one can assume that everyone goes to heaven. The Lord didn’t teach that otherwise there would have been no need for the Gospel to spread. Christ did atone for our sins during His Passion, and our sins are forgiven.  But that doesn’t mean we have a free entrance ticket to heaven. If we break a window the owner may forgive us, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to pay to replace the window. Christ gave us a free gift of love and mercy, however, we need to accept that gift and the price is high.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. John 14:15

Everyone knows that following in the way of the Lord is difficult. However, He has compassion for our missteps as long as we humbly return to Him and ask for His mercy. He never denies his mercy to a humble and contrite heart. 

Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Mark 7:15

Prayer, sacrifice, humility, and reconciliation help to restore our purity.  Thus, it should be no surprise, that if offered for another soul, our prayers may be purgative for them.

He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. The treasure and wealth of the nations will be brought there, but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any[one] who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:10, 26-27

Pray for the living and the dead and your reward will be great in heaven. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Pray without ceasing! Pass it on!