Pray for Marriages (Current and Future!)

Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Today I am thinking about St, Joseph. What a perfect model of a man and of a husband! That’s a lot to say about a man we barely know. I wonder, was he shy? Gregarious? Ordinary?

In just a few sentences written about him though, we know his character and dispositon: kind, compassionate, faithful, and protective.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:18-19

Where many men would have flown into a rage and smeared the name of their betrothed (or worse), upon hearing the voice of an angel, Joseph treats Mary with dignity and puts his faith in God.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. Matthew 1:20

Such faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control!  Faithfulness results in righteousness, and righteousness bears fruit!

If you are a husband, contemplate the man that Christ chose to be the husband of His mother, and God chose as the earthly father of his son.  Pray that you become that type of man!

If you are a single male, meditate on the life of Joseph, and discern what a good husband looks like.  Decide to become that kind of husband one day.

If you are a married woman, pray that your spouse grows in virtue, like Joseph. But also pray that you surrender yourself to the plan God has for your marriage.

If you are a single woman, never settle for a man who doesn’t treat you like you are the daughter of the Most High King!

Lord, hear the prayers emanating from our hearts as we pray unceasingly for marriages!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Show others what a faithful husband looks like. Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Timeless Love)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Three months.  Three deaths.  That is the number of relatives I have lost in a short time. Two were totally unexpected.  I know my experience is not unique. Death is a guarantee. With each death, though, I believe most people ask themselves a series of questions: When did I last see them?  What was our last conversation about? Did they know I loved them?   

We are never guaranteed our tomorrows with anyone. Each conversation, every glance or glare, and each act of injury or kindness could be your last with someone. Now is the time to reconnect, mend relationships, ask forgiveness, and abandon self-love for self-less love.  Hug your family members and say “I you love”.  Those words could be someone’s lasting memory of you.

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

Dearest Jesus, love and mercy, are easy virtues to aspire to and difficult ones to live by. Help us to reflect your image in word, deed, and disposition.  May we be but an instrument in your hand that seeks to bring about healing wherever needed in our familial relationships. Be our guide so that our love for one another may be timeless and without bounds. Jesus we trust in You!  Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Love is contagious.  Start a pandemic and pass it on! 

Pray for Marriages (Faith and Protection)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

Are any of you feeling weary? Defeated? Holding on tightly to the hope of having a good marriage, a great marriage, even a holy marriage?

You tested us, O God, tried us as silver tried by fire… we went through fire and water; then you led us out to freedom. Psalms 66:10, 12

You want to believe, but can't see any light at the end of the tunnel?

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

Perhaps you see nothing but roadblocks? Satan wants to fill you with doubt and despair. So let us pray prayers of protection for one another, calling for the help of St. Michael the Archangel to be a warrior for marriages.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

We know that all things work for good for those who love God. 

Romans 8:28   Pass it on!

Pray for Families (Radiating Love)

Greeting Prayer Warriors,

The Lord’s commandments on how to live are simple and clear:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ […] ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be kind and loving at work, with friends, and even strangers, but once at home or surrounded by family, loving as Jesus asks can sometimes be challenging?

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Mark 6:4

The Lord shows us clearly why we need Him! So let us humble ourselves and ask for His assistance.

Almighty God, each day we start out with the best of intentions and journey along in the hopes of imitating you. Yet how often we get derailed by losing our focus and our patience! Our humanness shines brightly! But Lord, with your grace and guidance, we can be a reflection of you, a light in the darkness. Show us your mercy and grant us the grace to radiate your love. This world needs more Love. May all meet you through us. Amen.

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Fill a great need in the lives of others. Love more. Pass it on. 

Pray for Marriages (Indivisibility)

Greetings Prayer Warriors, 

Today I was witness to the end of a 66-year marriage, that of my aunt and uncle. It was not tragic, but beautiful, as the end was as God ordained it, “Until death do us part”. It was a most unlikely love affair. They met on a blind date, one my aunt didn’t want to go on, but in a twist of fate, they were engaged 5 days later and married in 3 weeks. It wasn’t even a shotgun wedding. Just divine circumstance. Once married, they weren’t viewed. as individuals any longer but rather “Aggie & Bob”. They were clearly one.

A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Ephesians 5:31

They prayed together, played together, and volunteered in service to others and their church. They endured each other’s health issues with love and fidelity. They never entertained the option of divorce any more than they would have considered cutting off a limb. They were indivisible. Perhaps a successful marriage it’s as simple as that. Commitment through the good times and bad….

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 10:23, 11:1

How amazed and uplifted I am by God’s grace in their marriage, and their enduring commitment to their vows. But then again, the Lord always honors our commitments to Him, if only we have faith.

Lord, increase our faith that we may always believe you will never ignore or abandon us in our need.  Give all of us patience, especially when you test us with a slow, delayed response.  May we instead love you all the more as you challenge us to grow in love. Thank you for the witness of couples such as these. They are a great light to those who dwell in darkness, because you shine so brightly through them. Continue to send us beacons of hope, encouragement, and love.

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Believe not if what you see, but in all of God’s promises. Pass it on!   

Pray for Families (Seeing the Truth)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

In the past decade, this country has seen a lot of change. As the family has been broken down, separated and redefined, so too has the fabric of this country. In turn, the country has felt much like a family at war. And with God slowly being moved out of the picture, there is no unifying presence. Christianity has declined, atheism and agnosticism have risen, and the role of government has increased. Religious freedom is eroding and Christianity is becoming the new hate group.  Think I’m being over-dramatic?

In my state, bills were passed in the legislature to:

• Mandate insurance companies to cover all forms of birth control and abortions..  There was no allowance for a conscience clause by any business or religious organization.
• Legalize womb rental. You’re not allowed to rent your body, but your womb? No problem! No need to live in state or even in this country to rent a womb. No background checks or home evaluation necessary either! Can only t imagine the impact on human trafficking.
• Make it illegal for therapists to help anyone with gender dysphoria other than encouraging the dysphoria.

We must hold fast to the truth and share the truth.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.  

2 Corinthians 13:8

Seek the truth! Support the truth!

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17

Lord, give us the courage to speak up and not be silenced by our fears. We pray that you enlighten our minds, those of our families, and those who have no sense of the truth.  You are our Truth.  May we hold fast to you and all your teachings. Strengthen us for the good fight! St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Ignorance is not bliss. Pass it on!  

Pray for Marriages (Crushing Crosses)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

The Lord “blesses” each marriage with its own unique cross. Crosses range from the burden of infidelity, chronic illnesses, physical and emotional abandonment, verbal abuse, apathy, disagreements over children, and so on.

As Servant of God Dorothy Day so accurately states regarding being a Christian, “We must love to the point of folly and we are indeed fools as the Lord himself was, who died for such a one as this.”

These crosses are not light and often we feel crushed by them. But even Jesus did not walk alone with the cross.  He so beautifully witnessed that no one is to be left alone with his cross. For on the Via Dolorosa, it was our cross He was carrying, not His. When Simon was called upon to help Jesus, I imagine he locked eyes with Jesus, and immediately sensed that Jesus was actually helping him/us with his/our cross.

Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God^* and afflicted, But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.  Isaiah 53:4-5

For isn’t that which is crushed, more open, more tender?  Perhaps it is then that we become clay for the Potter.

Continue to support each other in prayer, which strengthens the cross-bearer and crushes the weight of the cross.  You are not alone.  You have an army here of spiritual warriors praying for your perseverance!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Janet

Build the army. Pass it on.