I, The Wind...

"Lord grant me the grace to have freedom of the spirit"... and this came to me in a dream three nights ago... "I, the Wind, blow your spirit into the mind of God!"

I want to introduce to you to one of my favorite places, 'Sacred Space' ...

http://www.sacredspace.ie/ this is truly Holy Ground. A space to come on a daily prayer quest and to place your prayers. Where the Cistercians in Ireland and Carmelita's in New Zealand are happy to support the community with their prayers. I love the gentle way the prayer leads me into the presence of my Lord. Wherever I am, I can access this site and experience the Peace of God...

May God's Love, Peace n' Joy be with you on this sacred journey to His Birth and here is a prayer you can use daily...

"King of kings and Lord of lords, all power belongs to you in heaven and on earth. As a child of such a king, embolden me to pray and work until your kingdom is fully embodied here." ... from "the WORD among us"

http://trustiam.com/

Remove the Cloud of Deception...

Can I interest you in an experiment?

I want to encourage you, to challenge you to pray this prayer daily. I know we can pray together, that it does not matter what doctrine or church we attend. The secret is coming together in the body of Christians who pray to the Father through Jesus Christ his son.
Evil is running ramped... in our world ... in our country (Luke 21, 5-19 ...read, take comfort n' be not afraid)... Jesus tells us that it is all going to fall apart. Is this what's happening now? I believe that as we come together in humbleness; that we need to look to him in prayer and share the feelings, the concerns of our heart. To me the words of this prayer speaks of the concerns through out the world. Let us have ears to hear, eyes to see... and hearts to pray. Lord, free our hands to work for your peace. It only takes one faithful person to change the course of history! Imagine what the body of Jesus Christ could do!


"Heavenly Father, Eternal Now, Creator of the Universe, Splendor of Heaven, listen with compassion to Your children who cry out to You. Pour out upon the earth Your Provision, Your Mercy, Your Love. With the winnowing fan of Your Divine Will, separate good from evil."

"Remove the cloud of deception Satan has placed over the heart of the world so that all people and every nation choose good over evil. No longer allow us to suffer from the evil choices of those who oppose Your Eternal Divine Will."
Jesus... Jesus... Jesus...


Now, look and see the Good that is happening and give 'Thanksgiving' to our God for opening our ears to hear n' our eyes to see the work of His hands!

http://www.trustiam.com/

The Jabez Novena

Here is another wonderful Novena; a three day prayer, sandwiched between nine 'Our Fathers' and nine 'Hail Marys'. Say the 'Our Fathers' slowly, dwelling on the meaning of the words...

Say 9 Our Fathers...

Eternal Father, Please open the window of heaven and pour us out a financial blessing so great that there isn't enough room for us to receive it all. We pray that you would bless us indeed...enlarge our territories... that Your hand will be with us to keep us safe from evil. That we may not cause pain. Thank you heavenly Father for granting our request.

Jesus...Jesus...Jesus... Amen

Say 9 Hail Marys

"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!"

In this novena we are called to publish it on the third day...

http://www.trustiam.com/

Day Nine...Powerful Prayer...

This is the ninth day in our Novena, the Powerful Prayer to St Jude...helping us in our prayer to our Lord Jesus...for the concerns of the world and our country.

ST. Jude, Founder of the Church
(Day Nine)
As one of the twelve apostles, St Jude is a part of the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ (this sets the example of a solid foundation for us.) (Rev 21: 14) Wherever he traveled, he established communities of faith in which "the faithful lived together and owned everything in common... sharing among themselves according to what each one needed. Day after day they went as a body to the temple but met in their homes for the breaking of the bread; they shared their food gladly and generously." (Rev 21: 14-46)
St. Jude believed in unity and equality within the Church. Like St. Paul, he understood that "all of us are part of Christ's body." (I Cor 12: 27) Because we are all equal in Christ, St Jude professed with St. Paul, "There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free, between men and women; we are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28)
Jesus promised that he would send his Spirit, the advocate, "to lead them to complete truth." (Jn 16: 13) On Pentecost, they received that Spirit "like a powerful wind from heaven," and began to make bold proclamations as the Spirit prompted them. (Jn 16: 13-14) They overcome their fear and preached with wisdom and strength.
The Lord calls us to be active members of our church communities, sharing our gifts and placing them at the service of others. We need to overcome our fears, timidity and selfish individualism in order to join others to share our faith, unite in prayer and work together to build up Christ's body, which is the church. Jesus longed that we all be one as he and the Father are one. May we work for that unity and equality among all believers in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
St. Jude, you traveled far and wide to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all nations. You gathered people into communities of faith so that they might live the Gospel of the Lord, sharing their lives and resources, joining their hearts and minds in the Lord. You recognized the dignity of all, the diversity of gifts and the equality among all God's children. Pray to the Lord to send his Spirit to cover the earth, our countries, to our church leaders and to each of us so that we might create unity and equality amid the division and discrimination in our church, in the nations communities. Help us overcome our own fear, our timidity or self- centeredness in order to place our gifts at the service of our sisters and brothers in our local church communities. Amen.

Commitment
I will do something to help build up my local church.

Prayers of the heart...
http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml

Inspirational Prayer Candles...
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Day Eight...Powerful Prayer...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not
doubt God's wisdom as we bring the difficult concerns of the world and of our country to...

St Jude, Advocate of Difficult Cases
(Day Eight)
St. Jude was not only a follower of Jesus but probably his cousin and friend as well. His close relationship to Jesus not only changed his life but made him a powerful advocate on our behalf. From Jesus he learned about God's boundless compassion and infinite power. He learned not to doubt God's wisdom but confidently to trust Divine mercy.
St Jude understood how we all desire to be close to Jesus, to be his friend, to feel the warmth of his love and to experience his healing power. St. Jude heard the Lord say, "I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learned from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and the Father will give you anything you ask in my name." (Jn 15: 15-16)
At times we despair of God's love for us or at least doubt that God hears our prayer. We question: "Why has this happened to me?" "Where is the Lord when I need him?"
We come to St. Jude because we believe he is a man of faith and understands that nothing is impossible for God. He believed what Jesus had told him at the Last Supper, "If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it." (Jn 14:14) He heard Jesus say, "... with God everything is possible." (Jn 14: 14)

PRAYER
St. Jude, you are Jesus' cousin and friend. Accompanying him on his journeys and watching him cure the sick, you felt his infinite compassion and experienced his saving grace. You believed that he has the words of eternal life and power over sickness and death. Intercede for us now so that we might feel the comfort of his friendship, the warmth of his presence and the healing power of his spirit. Because nothing is impossible for our God, pray that the Spirit will make us whole in body and soul. Amen.

Commitment
I promise to encourage someone who is facing a seemingly hopeless situation.

Prayers' for the financial problem facing you.
http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml

A candle flame to help you focus on as you are in prayer.
http://www.trustiam.com/

Day Seven... Powerful Prayer...

Jesus has calls each of us to spread the Good News, he has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us. Now as we pray the seventh day of this powerful prayer for the concerns of the world and our country...lets us not forget that Jesus has conquered the world!

St. Jude, Preacher of the Good News of God's Reign

Jesus trained St. Jude and sent him and others to outlying villages to preach the Good News and work the Kingdom of God. After Jesus ascended into heaven, St. Jude continued the Lord's work and followed his command, "Go, therefore; make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to observe all the commands I have given you. And know that I am with you always, even, to the end of time." (Mt 28: 19-20)

We sometimes think that we are not called or sent; mistakenly we think we have nothing to offer to the world or that we lack sufficient knowledge or power to change anything. We forget that through baptism we were commissioned just like St. Jude, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... Your light must shine before all, so that, seeing your good works, they may praise your Father in heaven." (Mt 5: 13-16) Jesus warns us not to hide our light under a basket.

St. Jude knew how to bring the Good News of Jesus to others. He learned from the Lord that whenever we give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick or imprisoned, we befriend Jesus himself. (Mt 25: 31-47)

St. Jude courageously announced the Good News of God's love and energetically preached the coming of God's reign of justice, peace and love wherever he went. He remembered Jesus' words at the Last Supper, "In the world you will have trouble, but be brave; I have conquered the world." (Jn 16: 33)

PRAYER
St Jude, you left home and traveled afar in order to bring the Good News of God's love to all the nations. You preached enthusiastically about what you learned personally from the words and works of our Lord, Jesus. You courageously faced criticism, rejection and eventually martyrdom. Ask the Lord to send us his Spirit so that we might be faithful messengers of God's love, forgiveness and justice to our selfish, violent and unjust world. Help us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world by loving and compassionate way we speak to and treat one another. Amen.

Commitment
I will act on my faith and bring the Good News of Jesus Christ by word, deed and example to someone.

Prayers to help you on your journey...
http://www.light-a-candle.org/addprayer.shtml


A candle to bring light to your prayer time...
http://www.trustiam.com/

Day Six... Powerful Prayer

Forgiveness is probably one of the hardest things we are called to do, but I know the importance of this one act. If not done... it can destroy the person we are meant to be. On this sixth day, St. Jude points us to the source of forgiveness, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We learn from the Master, the Healer of our soul... Let us keep in mind the concerns of the world and our country...

St. Jude, Compassionate Reconciler

St. Jude was a human being like all of us and forgiveness did not come easily to him. He learned how to forgive others from the Master, our Lord Jesus. He probably was shocked to hear Jesus say, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," so that you may "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mt 5: 44, 48) But that is just what he did and so must we. Jesus extended his mercy and forgiveness to sinners and even to those who attacked him. Even when he was dying on the cross, Jesus forgave his executioners, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Lk 23: 34)

Like Paul, St. Jude preached that we should not let the sun go down upon our anger. (Eph 4:26) If we have anything against anyone, we must first reconcile with that person before presenting our gift at the altar. (Eph 4: 24-31)

Can we really forgive those who have offended us? And how many times can we forgive? When Peter asked Jesus that question, St. Jude probably heard about Jesus' answer: "Not seven times seven, but seventy times seven." (Mt 18: 22)

When teaching St. Jude and the other apostles how to pray, Jesus explained. " If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you." (Mt 6: 14) For this reason we ask for the strength to forgive those who have offended us as we pray the words Jesus taught us, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

PRAYER

St. Jude, apostle of mercy and reconciliation, help us one another. You understand the depth of God's compassion and our hesitancy to forgive. You learned how to be merciful from Jesus, the Son of God. He taught you how to forgive those who persecuted you and put you to death. Intercede for us now before our compassionate God that we might forgive those who have offended us. Help us to remove every trace of hatred, bitterness or revenge from our hearts. May we have the strength to forgive as God forgives. Amen.

Commitment

I will forgive someone who has offended me and try to reconcile myself with that person.

Father, I forgive_____________, help my unforgive-ness!

For more prayers please visit...
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For prayer candles please visit...
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Day Five... of Powerful Prayer

Jesus showed St. Jude, just as He shows us how we are to live our lives... the perfect role model, the perfect teacher.
As we enter this fifth day of St. Jude's Novena...bring to mind the concerns of our world and our country.

St. Jude, Servant of God's People

St.Jude was privilege to accompany Jesus nearly every day. he learned from the Lord how God loves us and how we must love one another.
At times we may want others to serve us, to do our bidding and to attend to our needs. Sometimes we compete with others in order to be first or the best. Like St Jude, we need to learn from Jesus, "Anyone who wants to be great, must be the servant of the rest and anyone who wants to be first, must be the slave of all, like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many." (Mt 20: 26-28)
At the Last Supper Jesus showed St. Jude and the other apostles how they were to serve. He washed their feet and said, "I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you." (Lk 13: 15)
St. Jude did not look for a reward for doing good for others. Rather, he lived what Jesus taught, "When you have done all you have been told to do, say, 'We are merely servants; we have done no more than our duty." (Lk 17: 10)
St Jude fulfilled the greatest commandments identified by Jesus: to love God with our whole heart, our whole soul and our whole mind, and our neighbor as ourselves. (Mt 22: 37-45)

PRAYER
St Jude, although you were chosen by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles, you learned not to be proud, not to pursue honors or the highest places. instead, you humble yourself in the service of your sisters and brothers. We pray that you help us to serve with a more generous heart, to sacrifice our own interest for the good of others. Intercede for us with our crucified Christ, who humbled himself on the cross, who sacrificed his life that we might live. May we imitate him by a life of dedicated, selfless service to others. Amen.

Commitment
I will do some service for those who need it most or expect it least.


In need of that special prayer or wish to add a prayer request... please visit...
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Day Four... Powerful Prayer...

Blessed All Saints Day leads us into day four of... St. Jude, Champion of Justice and Peace... for the concerns of the world and our country.

Like the other apostles, St. Jude learned to struggle for justice and peace by accompanying Jesus and listening to his teaching. He heard the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus taught, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God...Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward awaits you in heaven." (Mt5: 9, 11-12)

St. Jude wrote in his letter, "I encourage you to fight on for the faith which once and for all God has given to people." (Jude 1: 3) St. Jude struggled for all that Jesus worked to establish. As did Jesus, he preached the Good News to the poor, proclaimed liberty to captives, restored sight to the blind and set free the oppressed. (Lk 4: 18)

We sometimes resist the Lord's challenge to work for God's reign of justice and peace. We fear criticism and conflict; we seek comfort and convenience. Not St. Jude! He fought non-violently for peace through reconciliation and compassion and understood that without justice there is no true peace.

For his commitment to the reign of justice and peace, St. Jude suffered. just as Jesus had predicted, "You will be hated on account of my name." (Mt 10:22) Nevertheless, he enjoyed the peace promised by the Lord at the Last Supper when he said: "Peace I give to you, my own peace I leave you; a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you." (Mt 10: 22)

PRAYER

St. Jude, you courageously preached the Word of God in the most difficult situations. Like Jesus, you defended the poor and oppressed and challenged the rich and powerful. When threatened with death, you did not resort to violence or despair but recalled Jesus' words of peace and justice in our world. Ask the Lord to give us the courage to stand up for what is right. Pray that we be effective peacemakers like you, especially in the world where there is war and oppression, in our communities where there is violence and strife and in our families where there is conflict and tension. Amen.

Commitment

I promise to act against some injustice and take some action that will restore peace somewhere in the world.

It is up to us to act as peacemakers in our families, in our communities, in our world. Act on what you believe the Holy Spirit is calling you to do and let that act be like a pebble thrown on the water and the ripples reach out to touch others. May God Bless... until tomorrow.

For other powerful prayers visit...
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