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)PrayerSt. 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.CommitmentI 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.shtmlIt 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)http://www.trustiam.com/
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)PrayerSt. 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/
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)PRAYERSt. 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.COMMITMENTI 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)http://www.trustiam.com/
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 Candlehttp://www.trustiam.com/
I will begin this third day in our prayers for the concerns of our world and our country as...
