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...
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A candle to bring light to your prayer time...
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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!

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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.

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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...
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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.

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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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