Pray for Marriages (A Heart to Heart)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,  

I am on vacation, but not too busy to remind you to pray. But since I am on a completely different time zone, time schedule, etc. AND because I just sent you last Friday’s “Pray for Families”, I will keep this short, as long as you keep your prayers for marriages, long!

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12

Jesus’ prayer was nothing other than a conversation with God. Have a long heart-to-heart with the Lord and share all that troubles you, all that delights you, and all your prayer intentions, especially those for marriages. Take some time to listen too!

God bless you all!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

God never tires of your voice. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (A Fortress of Protection)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The Lord wants nothing more than to gather His children with Him in heaven, yet we often don’t listen to His words or try to hear His voice. Sometimes, we even spurn His gift of love. So why are we surprised when our own children treat their earthly parents that same way?

Children don't usually appreciate their parents until they gain perspective. Then what they spurned at one time, they seek with open arms.  So it is in our relationship with God.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53

Have we not experienced this in the last 5 years? Vaccine polarization, political division, racial conflicts, etc.?  It is difficult to understand God’s plan for good in all of this.

He also said to the crowds, “When you see [a] cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain—and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Luke 12:54-56

Contemplate these scriptures and what the Lord might be saying to you, personally?  How might He be weaving a beautiful tapestry from the messiness of your family life?

The greatest weapon of our times is prayer.  As Satan seeks to destroy the family by increasing divisiveness, he again will misjudge the Master’s plan. Keep your hearts united in prayer, and together we will create a powerful fortress. Keep the prayers coming and trust in the Good Shepherd to find all the lost sheep. 

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

 

Unite more hearts in prayer to strengthen the fortress! Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (The Eyes of Faith)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

Marriage is a great training ground for working on the building of virtue and the elimination of vices. Vices become more apparent when you are around your spouse daily, and of course it is much easier to pinpoint your spouse’s vices than your own. Sometimes it’s even easier to identify the virtues they lack. But our focus shouldn’t be on the other until we’ve spent a long time looking in the mirror. No, I am not talking about the literal mirror that only contributes to one’s vanity, but contemplating the condition of our very soul. We must pray that our blinders be removed so that we may see as God does.

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. Luke 6:42

Working on oneself is difficult, but so too is helping your partner uproot their vices and grow in virtue. Both can seem overwhelming and unattainable, but we must never forget that nothing is impossible for God. 

I will lead the blind on a way they do not know; by paths they do not know I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them,and make crooked ways straight. These are my promises: I made them, I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

I once heard a well known Catholic state, “I believe in God, I just don’t trust Him.”  As bad as that sounds, it was actually a very honest, transparent statement that showed some self-reflection. Aren’t we all guilty of lack of trust? Who hasn’t prayed and prayed about a situation, and when it does not resolve to our satisfaction in the timeframe we desired, we take back control of the situation and make the decisions we think are important? 

“I do believe, help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

Make the above scripture your constant prayer as you seek the Lord’s help in growing in virtue through the eyes of faith. Once your faith in Him grows, the rest will follow.

It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Show you believe and pass it on! 

Pray for Families (Peace to Your Household)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

We contemplate all too seldom why the Lord has put us on this earth. It’s not to become rich or famous (although that could happen), but to fulfill HIS plan for our lives, one in which we increase his kingdom here on earth by making known his message of mercy and love..

God longs for us to bring His Light into this world, one that is becoming increasingly darker, not because of the shorter days autumn brings, but due to darkened hearts that celebrate sin. 

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Luke 10:2

He asks us, “Will you labor for me? There is much to harvest!”

Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 

Luke 10:3

While that statement doesn’t necessarily breed confidence, He questions us, “Do you love Me enough to work for my Kingdom? Do you trust Me?”

Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 

Luke 10:5

The biggest challenge could be your own home, but never neglect to daily offer it His Peace which lives in you. 

 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.  Luke 10:6

Contemplate how bringing increased Peace into the world is dependent on each one of us! If we do not share it with others, it will not spread. We must also share the Light of His Love, illuminating those darkened hearts that are lost and can’t find The Way. Be a torchbearer and a peace sharer!

Lord, how often we feel unequipped to labor for you, even in our own homes! We lack courage, faith, trust, passion, and desire. Send your Spirit upon us and awaken and energize our desire to serve You. As we each battle varying levels of darkness in our own households, instill in us a warrior heart, one whose weapons are love and peace. Fill us with all we need, for you don’t call the equipped, but equip the called! Yes Jesus, we trust in You!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Peace to your households! Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Loving Intentionally)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

While I missed Friday’s reminder, I hope you still prayed! Family time won, (as it should). Over the years I have struggled with balancing my time set aside for the Lord and those activities that honor Him, and not losing focus on my God-ordained vocation of marriage and family. Satan delights in tempting us to use our strengths in overdrive, which then become our weaknesses and can steal time from what’s truly important. It is a subtle snare.

That’s true in marriage as well, not just family. How often does one work self-inflicted overtime, spend copious amounts of time volunteering for this and that, even church related activities, or work long hours for a great cause, delighting in what they do, only to decimate time with their spouse (and/or children). These can be very good things if mutually agreed upon, but not when they are only to make you feel praised and loved by others, (while your spouse/family feels neglected.) 

Meditate on the following scripture passages, and when you read the word “ love”, add ‘for my spouse/family”.

If I speak in human and angelic tongues  but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Perhaps the question to ask oneself is, “What is the most loving behavioral response for my relationship?”  The challenge is to find moderation. Sometimes one can incorporate their spouse/family into their volunteer/ charitable time. And perhaps there may be times your spouse can help you meet a work deadline that is causing you to work into the evening. Simply put, reflect on what can bring you together rather than separate you more. 

Lord, we need your eyes to help us find the right order within our lives. We need your wisdom to help us make the best decisions within our vocation of marriage and family. We need your heart to love more intentionally. Guide our actions and words, so that we might become a reflection of you in all that we do, honoring your master plan for our lives. Jesus we trust in you! Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Begin each day with a renewed love. Pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Truly Divine)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The sacrament of marriage is truly divine, as it fuses the man and women in a mystical way, much in the same way that baptism makes us part of the Body of Christ. We are one.

For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ  and individually parts of one another. Romans 12:4-5

Without a doubt, our union with Christ is difficult to comprehend! Have you ever contemplated, “Are my bodily decisions taking into account that I am a member of Christ’s body? Do I glorify God with it? Am I making good decisions, ones that strengthen my union with God as well as my union with my spouse?

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? [ … ] For “the two,” it says, “will become one flesh.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-16

In marriage, we are joined to another human being in such a beautiful, unifying way, yet our actions often betray us as we regress from us to me. Too easily “we” lose sight that our daily “yes”, a yes of self-denial for the good of the other, was what we vowed to do!

A man shall leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Mark 10:7-9

We clearly need divine help, so let us boldly ask!

Heavenly Father, we truly need your grace to celebrate the “we” on a daily basis and be comfortable with our yes. Pride, selfishness, exhaustion, frustration, and a litany of other things drive us to separate like two magnets, rather than unite like a magnet to steel. Be our strength and teach us to move toward greater submission to one another. We are beautifully flawed humans made magnificent by your effusive graces which beckon us not only to greater marital unity, but to oneness with your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are truly blessed!  

A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. Psalm 51:12

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Offer  an unexpected kindness to your spouse. Pass it on! 

Pray for Families (All God’s Children)

 Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Of the many blessings we have in life, if we are honest with ourselves, most we take for granted. We consider shelter, clothing, housing, and transportation, a given, not a gift. Sometimes it’s not until a real tragedy hits that we realize where the source of all gifts come from: Our Almighty God. 

If we haven’t experienced tragedy, we have at least witnessed it. What we haven’t seen, we often learn about it in the media. (My heart is thinking NC). Nothing, however, is more edifying than seeing friends, neighbors, and strangers rallying to help. And when one isn’t able to assist physically or emotionally, they often can financially. The human spirit is alive and well, animated by the Holy Spirit.

‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds. Hebrews 10:16

This is a faith we have to pray to receive and grow in, and live by. We are all a work in progress. So we begin in prayer that all that we do is for the glory of God, in service to his people.  

Whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Philippians 3:7-9

Regardless of our own pain and suffering, let us pray for such a right order of thought, that which St. Paul eventually came to later in his life!  

Loving God, may your children who have been affected directly or indirectly by Hurricane Helene, find comfort in your comforting embrace. May those suffering from tragedies not publicized, also be assisted by your many good samaritans.  Lord, move our hearts too, that we may reach out to others with acts of charity, kindness, empathy, support, and assistance. May we never assume that others will assist those in need, but rather know that it all starts with a yes from us. Help us with our yeses! For when we sow love, the Son makes it  grow and grow, propagating it throughout the world.  Sweet Jesus, we trust in your everlasting love! Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Live the gospel and love will never end! Pass it on!