Third Day of Powerful Prayer

I will begin this third day in our prayers for the concerns of our world and our country as...

St. Jude, Suffering Christian...
Like the other apostles, St. Jude suffered a martyr's death because he was committed to Carry out the mission of our Lord. He accepted Jesus challenge, "If any want to follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me." (Lk 9: 23)
In the midst of his difficulties St. Jude trusted the Lord, who said, "Come to me all you who labor and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light." (Mt 11:28-30)
St. Jude undoubtedly understood that his sufferings were joined to those of Jesus and therefore were redemptive. St Paul declared, "I am happy to suffer for you, for by means of my sufferings, I help complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church." (Col 1: 24)
St. Jude was human. He felt pain as we do. But he remembered the suffering of Jesus, his sense of abandonment on the cross, when he cried out "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" (Mt 27: 46) These memories helped St. Jude endure his pain because he knew he suffered in union with the Lord.
In our sufferings we reflect on those of our Savior, Jesus. He was spit upon, beaten and nailed to the cross where he hung in agony for three hours. Perhaps the most painful suffering that pierced his heart was the rejection by the people's leaders and the abandonment by his friends. Nevertheless, Jesus was faithful until the end when he cried out, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." (Lk 23:46)

Prayer
St. Jude, you remained faithful to our Lord, even unto death. You gave your life so that others might live. You endured physical pain and emotional abandonment. But you gladly joined your sufferings to those of our Savior, Jesus and thus shared in the redemption of the world. We ask you now to intercede with our brother, Jesus Christ, so that we too might be faithful in the face of our suffering. Help us to trust in God and put our life in his hands. Amen.

Commitment
I will join all my sufferings to those of Jesus for the redemption of the world and I will encourage someone who is suffering.

Thank you again...
http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml


It helps me when I have a reading to lead me into prayer. The messages here has opened up a deeper layer for this novena... I hope it has helped you!
May the Spirit lead you to inexpressible groaning. (Romans 8: 26)

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Day Two... "Powerful Prayer..."

We begin day two of 'Powerful Prayer to St. Jude' for the concerns of the world...

St. Jude Apostle of Prayer
(Day Two)
Jesus taught St. Jude how to pray with a faith that could move mountains. His prayer was inspired by Jesus' words: "Ask and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." (lk 11: 9-10)
We sometimes think that God has abandoned us or that our prayers have fallen on deaf ears. St. Jude prayed with confidence instilled by Jesus' teaching: "Look how the wild flowers grow; they never have to spin or weave; yet not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. How much more will God look after you? ...Don't worry... Your Father knows what you need. Instead, set your hearts on God's kingdom, and these other things will be given you as well." (Lk 12: 22-31)
Although we do not totally understand God's ways, we confidently place ourselves in God's hands, as Jesus himself did. St. Jude was with Jesus the night he prayed in the Garden. There, in agony, Jesus taught us how to pray: "Father, if it be possible, take this cup of suffering from me. Yet, not my will but yours be done." (Mt 26: 39)
When we are insistent and confident in prayer, we also allow our prayer to transform our lives. We open our hearts to God's spirit, willingly accept the challenges God allows us and generously recommit ourselves to imitate Jesus. St. Jude understood the Lord's words, "It is not those who say to me 'Lord, Lord' who enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father." (Mt 7: 21)

Prayer
St. Jude, through prayer you praised God for the wonderful works of Jesus. You asked God for the strength to meet the challenges of your apostate. You put your trust in God's mercy, believing firmly that God loved you and understood your joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and your triumphs and failures. You understood that nothing is impos-sible for God. We ask you to pray for us now before the Most High so that we too might be filled with God's saving power, understand God's will for us and faithfully place ourselves in God's loving hands. Amen.

Commitment...
I recommit myself to pray daily with greater confidence and faith that God's will be done in me.

I want to once again to direct you to the source of this great novena...
http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml
They have a special place where you can post a prayer request.

http://www.trustiam.com/

Powerful Prayer to St. Jude...Day one.

Nine Days...

Pray from your heart... pray slower.

I have learned to ask the Saints for prayer just as I would ask for prayer from my church, my family, my friends. To me, because they are a patron of (i.e. St Jude, patron saint of hopeless causes) is the reason I come before them for prayer. When I have, what I feel, is a great need, I bring it before a mighty prayer warrior like St Jude for prayer. Today I'm going to begin a 9 day Novena to St. Jude... for "the concerns of our world and our country." This will be DAY ONE... Please join me and pray this novena beginning the day you stop in... for to God there is no time!

St Jude Powerful Healer
(Day One)
St. Jude undoubtedly traveled with Jesus from village to village and witnessed Jesus' healing power. He may have seen his master cure the ten lepers, heal the woman suffering from hemorrhages and raised the dead to life. To the blind beggar who cried out, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!" he may have heard Jesus answer, "Receive your sight. Your faith has made you well." (Lk 18:39-43)
St Jude was one of the disciples to whom Jesus "gave power and authority...to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Lk 9: 1-2) He sent them out two by two, and to their amazement, "They drove out many demons, and rubbed oil on the sick and healed them." (Lk 9: 1)
We may doubt that God wants what is best for us. We sometimes mistakenly think all suffering and sickness are punishment for sin. We forget how Jesus worked tirelessly to heal the infirm. When Jesus cured the man born blind, he explained, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him." (Jn 9:3)
St Jude understood the lord's desire to make people whole. After Jesus' ascension, St Jude and the other apostles preached everywhere, and t"the Lord worked through them and proved that their preaching was true by the miracles that were performed." (Mk 16: 18) Jesus' words at the Last Supper were fulfilled in St. Jude, "Whoever believes in me will perform the Same works as I do myself and will perform even greater works." (Mk 16:18)

PRAYER
St. Jude, you witnessed the healing power of our Lord Jesus. You saw his compassion for the sick and dying. You yourself touched the sick, shared the sorrows of the mournful and encouraged the despairing. You received this authority and healing power to work wonders, to cure the incurable, to make people whole. We (I) ask you to intercede with our brother, Jesus, to send his saving grace to heal the sick and suffering, to uplift their despondent spirits and to instill hope in their hearts. Amen.

COMMITMENT
I promise that in some way I will bring the good news of God's love to someone who is sick or infirm.

This novena is such a powerful way to prayer; I found this novena and if you like to see more prayers like this please visit: http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml It is a beautiful site!

God promises that when I set my heart on His Kingdom that all other things will be given me... I will... To will... The will of God! (Luke 12: 22-31)

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A Matter of Choice...

Jesus said to her…”Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11: 40. This is a promise, not just idle words. If I believe I will see God’s glory!! All through the Gospels Jesus tells us in his gentle, yet strong words of truth… it is our choice to stay in his word; it is our choice to believe his words. To ask,” Lord, Increase our faith!” Luke 17: 5… To say “I believe help my unbelief!” Mark 9: 23-24. To ask for his help!

Heart breaking trials came into my life and the choice I made was to cling to the God of my hope. Even through the worse of times; I held on tight when there appeared no hope. Always to pray and not lose heart!

In reading this parable from Luke 18: 1-8; I became the woman who constantly went to God, crying out to him day and night. The broken heart was healed, I knew pure love; the fears left, I was protected; the crippling anxieties disappeared, I was healed. The healing continues, there is so much to be done... I know God hears the cries of his people, I've experienced it and his glory is revealed.

So, dear friends, hold onto the Truth, the Healer of your soul... He will hear you and He will answer as the story of your life unfolds. Jesus...Jesus...Jesus, I trust you...

The Gospel Candle

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Look How Big God Is...

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who publishes salvation; who says to Zion, “Your God reigns." Isaiah 52.7

I found this writing in a book of poems to encourage those going through wilderness times. The writer has a muscle disorder which limits her ability to move about but the most important aspect is that her spirit is not limited as she knows the greatness of our God.

"As I stood before my mountains, overcome with fear, I cried! I tried to see the top of it, but it reached far into the sky.

"Where do I begin?" I thought, "Do I have the strength to even start?" Then I remembered a minister's message... it put hope into my heart. "Tough Times Never Last," he said, "But Tough People do!"

So I gave my fears to God, my belief it really grew. I started to climb my mountain... with each step came great pain... I knew that God would give me strength, so I prayed as I climbed again. Half way up the mountain, I looked out and saw the sights; now all the clouds were lifting, an eagle was in flight. The view from the top was clearer now, the top not far away... excitement rushed through my soul. Again to God I prayed. "Dear Lord, thank you, for giving me this feat! Once I've conquered my mountain, this challenge will be complete."

As I face the struggles of life, each and every day, I know the Lord will guide me, over the obstacles in my way. I will not become discouraged... on with life I’ll go! With each mountain that I overcome... the stronger I will grow. When I finally reach the top, the one thing that I shall do, is look around and find someone who needs help up too. Together we will stand, on the mountain top and pray and thank God for the challenges that made us grow each day."

From "The Message"

God's wisdom is so deep, God's power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? He moves mountains before they know what's happened, flips them on their heads on a whim. He gives the earth a good shaking up, rocks it down to its very foundations. He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't; he pulls the blinds on the stars. All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea. He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We'll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can't be counted. Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him; quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it...

Matthew 17:20 (New American Standard)
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly 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; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Matthew 17:20 (New King James Version) … So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20 (The Message)… "Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."

Matthew 17:20 (Contemporary English Version)… Jesus replied: It is because you don't have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.

Do not say to God, "This mountain is so big"... instead say, "Mountain, look how big God is!"

The Aide Candle

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The Soul... A Candle Flame...

The living soul of man, the candle of God, sways back and forth, always aspiring to return to its Divine source, the infinite light of God
The soul's natural phenomenon of swaying, like a living candle, reaches its peak when we learn God's Word and pray to Him from the depth of our hearts ... Author Unknown

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts ( RSV Catholic Edition)

Proverbs 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh ~ searching the deepest self. (New Jerusalem Bible)

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. (New King James)

O' Lord, Let me not hide my light under a basket...nor my flame be blown out. You gave us the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us...that any question I ask will be answered...if I but listen. Lead me O Kindly Light...

Jesus...Jesus...Jesus...

The Christ Candle

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Jesus Taught Us ...

…how to pray. Because of this, I believe it is important to pay attention to what this prayer says to my heart... to our hearts...



“Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name... I don't think of God as male or female...to me God is all of this, even more so, beyond all I can conceive; a God who cannot be enclosed... put into a box. Jesus invites us to draw near to God who is beyond human understanding, who dwells in mystery, who is all holy… to be still and know that

I Am God...

My God, My All, I praise and worship your Holy Name… the Creator of my soul… All honor and glory are yours, O’ LORD.)

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven...
Jesus repeatedly tells us that God's power will appear and renew all creation. That God's plan from the beginning of the world would be fulfilled. God's kingdom would be marked by peace and justice. Good would be rewarded and evil punished. The kingdom, according to Jesus, is not far off, but already present in our midst, though not yet revealed.

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" Romans 8:19

A favorite author, Agnes Sanford, in her book "Creation Waits" writes... "Jesus the Transformer needs us ; God's power sent into the world through Jesus Christ yet needs us smaller beings to transmit that eternal radiance into the world, that it may become His kingdom."

What a powerful thought… that God's will is for our good…for there is no pain in Heaven… no wars in Heaven… no corruption, no greed, no poverty, no loneliness, no fear, NO______________ in Heaven. And we are to pray for God's power to come about here on earth...and BELIEVE that as Jesus said that it is here in our midst and renew... restore ALL creation!Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven,,,Jesus...Jesus...Jesus... Say this slowly as a heartfelt prayer…let it become the fiber of your very breath.)

Give us this day our daily bread, (We are His children… and as children is it not childlike to ask for our very needs to live by.
Thank you, my God, for the work you have given me today, the food that is on my table, my family and friends, my time with you, _______________.)

and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, (This is so vital for us to come to God and ask His forgiveness for what we have said or done to hurt others, to sin by thought, word or deed. And can you see, can I see, how we link God's forgiveness of us… by our forgiving others. Sometimes, I find it not always easy to forgive when someone has really caused me great harm, but I know I need to. I can not do it by myself, I need God's help to do it. I know I must forgive or otherwise I cannot receive God's mercy and this I long for.

Search my heart; O’ LORD and illuminate my sins … that I may ask forgiveness. I forgive … LORD, help my un-forgiveness that I may know and receive Your mercy.)

and lead us not into temptation, ( I don’t know about you, but I feel my life has been one big war zone… I have been tested... life has not been easy. When I meditate, I so often think of myself as clay and the process that clay undergoes before it becomes a beautiful, useful vessel. Yes, there is the kneading, the pounding to remove all air bubbles, the pulling apart over and over before the clay is ready to be shaped by the hands of the Potter into a beautiful, unique vessel and placed into the fires of life... A vessel to help and encourage others on a journey to wholeness!!
Yes, we need to ask God, as the Potter, to protect us from failing when we are tested, to help us to know the right thing to do, that HE delivers us from the evil which awaits us in life. To continue to pray...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven...) but deliver us from evil... AMEN "

(When Jesus was led into the wilderness, He said to evil …”It is written!”)
JESUS...JESUS...JESUS... JESUS, I trust you!


The Lords Prayer Candle

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My Life With The Paraclete...

My thoughts, are centered on knowing the Holy Spirit and what an exciting relationship this is becoming; a rich tapestry that is deeping every day … when I begin it with Him.

Jesus said when He left the disciples that He would send the Paraclete, the Comforter to be with them and all of His followers. He would be present with them at ALL times. With us at ALL times!!


I think with each one of us He speaks to us in our own language, our own personalities . For me, I am becoming more and more aware of His guidance and gentle nudging by using a perpetual Novena, (a Novena is a daily prayer or thoughts pondered on throughout the day for a number of days… such as 3 days, 7 days, “ the first Novena-Acts 1:14 and 2:3-4, was a 9 day Novena”) …this, Novena that I’m speaking of begins with each day of my life, now thats daunting when I think that I have commited my self in this way. But, I have asked Him to help me and the Comforter gives me the heart to persevere and the staying power to continue!’. He keeps drawing my thoughts to Him, teaching me to quite my self and listen to what He wants to tell me. I'm so excited when I hear and recognize His voice…I just delight in this knowing, this experience. I remember seeing years ago, in a Noah's Ark movie, an image of Noah dancing to his silent music, the music of the Holy Spirit and I longed to hear it, I longed to dance... I love it!!!

I use a little book called “Novena to the Holy Spirit”. You can find this and other wonderful little books through…Apostles of the Holy Spirit, 2709 Woodburn Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Their website is... http://www.aoths.org/ or email them at ... apostles.holyspirit@fuse.net

An interesting look into the word "Novena"... Nova is an explosion, a star of mediam size suddenly bursting into great light... becoming a "Nova".

Novena is a sudden bursting into a great light of God's Divine Glory... God's Intervention

It is written...

Luke 1:39-41 Mary Visits Elizabeth ...At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

John 1:33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'


Luke 3:16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Luke 1:67 [ Zechariah's Song ] His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Luke 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Luke 4:1 [ The Temptation of Jesus ] Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,

Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."


John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

These are but a few scripture verses which reveal the Holy Spirit and ways he works in the lives of his people. Weave the tapestry of your life as you ask Lord Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit...

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There She Is Again...

Just a few weeks ago I was asked if I had a problem accepting the Blessed Virgin Mary when I became a Catholic... and now I have the perfect story for the answer! I laughed with such delight


The following account was told by Father Sineux, during a spiritual retreat given on July 29, 1964: A Protestant pastor from Scotland had a large number of Irish families in his parish and, consequently, some fervent Catholics. He was extremely annoyed by these people and, being fervent himself in his religion, tried to fight against their beliefs in any way he could. He went readily to children with his ideas. One day he came across a young Irish girl of about eight years of age on the roadside. He stopped her, spoke a few nice words to her and then asked her to recite a few prayers, promising to give her two pennies if she recited them well. At once, the girl recited Our Father and the pastor congratulated her. “Do you know any others? Can you say another one?” he asked her. The child began the “Hail Mary,” but the pastor interrupted her. “That one is not a prayer, because you mustn’t pray to a woman, you should only pray to the Good Lord.” The small girl was a little embarrassed, but she continued and recited the Creed and the pastor encouraged her this time. However, when she arrived to the words “was born of the Virgin Mary”, the child sighed in annoyance and said, “There she is again! What am I to do?” The pastor later acknowledged that he almost suffocated when he heard the words of the young Irish girl. He gave her two pennies, sent her home and returned to his own abode very upset. There she is again, that Virgin Mary, even in the Creed, which he had recited so many times without noticing the words he was pronouncing! There she is in the center of our Christian faith! This marked the beginning of long reflections, which resulted in his own abjuration, shortly afterwards. He himself told this story many times, which was so decisive for his vocation, when he had later become a Catholic priest.


F.J.E. Marian Collection # 25, 1991

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Peace and Blessings on your day,

http://www.myprayercircle.com/?refid=10473-6ca81c73

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THE KEY THAT OPENS THE DOORS...

O my Holy Lady, Mother of God, full with grace, you, the Glory of our nature, the Channel of all goods, the Queen of all things after the Holy Trinity… the Mediatrix of the world after the Mediator. You, the mysterious Bridge which connects the earth to Heaven, the Key which opens the doors of paradise for us. Our Advocate, our Mediatrix, look at my faith, look at my desires and remember your power and mercy. Mother of the One who is true mercy and goodness, receive my heart in its misery and, by your intercession, make me worthy to be on the right-hand side of your only Son one day. ...Amen. JESUS...JESUS....JESUS...

St. Ephrem the Syrian

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen!

http://www.myprayercircle.com/?refid=10473-6ca81c73

http://www.trustiam.com