The Prayer

The Prayer

Let this be our prayer

in my prayer

when shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza pi� violenza

un mondo di giustizia e di speranza

Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino

Simbolo di pace, di fraternit�

We dream a world without violence

a world of justice and faith.

Everyone gives the hand to his neighbours

Symbol of peace, of fraternity

La forza che ci d�

We ask that life be kind

� il desiderio che

and watch us from above

ognuno trovi amor

We hope each soul will find

intorno e dentro s�

another soul to love

The force his gives us

We ask that life be kind

is wish that

and watch us from above

everyone finds love

We hope each soul will find

around and inside

another soul to love

Let this be our prayer

Let this be our prayer, just like every child

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

Need to find a place, guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

� la fede che

hai acceso in noi,

sento che ci salver�

It's the faith

you light in us

I feel it will save us

Dear Lord

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning.

I ' m blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.

You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you...

I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You...

Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.

And give me the best response
when I ' m pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can ' t pray,
You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost
and can ' t find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged
and misunderstood.

I pray for those who
don ' t know You intimately..

I pray for those that will delete this
without sharing it with others
I pray for those that don ' t believe.

But I thank You that I believe
that God changes people and
God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member
in their households.

I pray for peace, love and joy
in their homes; that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this
knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received
into the hearts of every eye that sees it ..

Amen!

Change in Plans

Image Credits to © Lincolnrog...
Dreamstime.com | edited with Picnik

Reading:

2 Corinthians 1:8-16

When I was still working as a secretary to a VP in a GOCC, too often than not, there were times that plans were altered, some last minute changes made that can make you feel not only highly pressurized, but you were expected to make the changes work.

Changes in flight schedules when you already acquired the tickets, the cancellation of appointments and reservations when it's already been set up, the documents that seem to have hidden themselves when you need them, and so on and so forth. The workload and the pressure was in mish-mash in a way you never imagine it would be, or so you thought.

But knowing that the job entails such makes it the more challenging, and the pressures just add up more adrenalin to make it work.

I guess I get lucky at most times. But you know what? A silent prayer was what helped, not because I get lucky every time. I knew God was with me when I need Him. He still is. I still am.

The Lord...is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20

The Power of Prayer

I got this from my dear mentor Rowena, and it was so tuching (hilak napud ko).

The times we felt we are alone and stressed out with problems, we are still blessed. If these people in some parts of the world who thrive even for the basic needs, who we are to complain about our own life's trivialities? It's nothing compared what they have to go through. Young as they are.

Isaiah 65:24

This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Central Africa.

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter.. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates).

'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.'

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so.. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the porch was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly... Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the..... could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!

'Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'

'Of course,' I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'.

'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another. This awesome prayer takes less than a minute.

PRAYING HANDS © Ta_samaya | Dreamstime.com

Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength. Where there is fear, reveal Your love and release to them Your courage. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them.. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Miracle Prayer

Lord Jesus, I come before you, just as I am. I am sorry for my sins; I repent my sins; please forgive me. In your name, I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life, Jesus; I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, change me, and strengthen me in body, soul and spirit.

Come Lord Jesus, cover me with your precious blood, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I love you, Lord Jesus. I praise you, Jesus. I thank you, Jesus. I shall follow you everyday of my life. Amen.

Mary my Mother, Queen of Peace, all the Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen.

(Say this Prayer, no matter how you feel, when you come to the point where you sincerely mean each word, with all your heart, something good spiritually will happen to you. You will experience Jesus and HE will change your whole life in a very special way. You will see.)

God's Way

This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast , cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the quickie mart building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying 'I don't want my kids to see me crying! ,' so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, 'And you were praying?' That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, 'He heard you, and He sent me.'

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City . Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan. 1, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spok en in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, 'So, are you like an angel or something?'

This definitely made me cry. I said, 'Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.'

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.

Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 ' Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'

Bible Verses

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you.
(Hebrews 13:5)

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Blessed be the … Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing. Chosen to be holy and without blemish. Destined for adoption as children of God. While these phrases describe God’s eternal plan for all of us, they hold a special meaning when we consider the Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception.

On this special day, we celebrate Mary as the new Eve, a woman preserved from original sin by a unique gift of God before she was even born. When we wonder what humanity would be like if it weren’t for sin, we can look to Mary for an answer. In her we see a humble trust in God’s ways. We see a willingness to question God, coupled with a quiet, reflective heart that embraces his answers wholeheartedly. We don’t always see perfect peace, but we do see perfect faith. And that’s why we are constantly encouraged to look to Mary as our mother and as the model of the Christian life.

As the first daughter of the new creation, Mary received in advance all of the blessings that are now available to us in Christ. Through the cross, we have been made sons and daughters of God. Through baptism, we are cleansed of original sin. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, we too can become bearers of God, bringing Christ into the world.

Just as we have received the same blessings as Mary, we can follow Mary as our example. Every day we can choose to embrace God’s plan, even when it is hard to understand. Through quiet, listening hearts, we can become signposts to the heavenly kingdom, showing people a new way to live. When we give of ourselves to the poor or to help a neighbor, we build the kingdom of God. When we stay close to the Lord, even through times of heartbreak, we receive his comfort and manifest his transforming power. Yes, Mary is blessed above all people, but we too have been super-abundantly blessed! We too have received “every spiritual blessing.” May we never lose sight of who we are in Christ!

Prayer: “Father, as we celebrate the gifts you gave to Mary, may we too be transformed by your grace to live as part of your new creation.”

Readings Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98:1-4; Luke 1:26-38

AGL QUIRANTE

Give Thanks!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,

I thank You for my being able to see

and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are

a forgiving God and

an understanding God.

You have done so much for me

and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything

I have done, said or thought

that was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe

from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day

with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day

to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind

that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper

over things I have no control over.

And give me the best response

when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray,

You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be

a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak...

Keep me uplifted that I may have

words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost

and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged

and misunderstood

I pray for those who

don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that will delete this

without sharing it with others

I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank You that I believe

that God changes people and

God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member

in their households.

I pray for peace, love and joy

in their homes; that they are out of debt

and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this

knows there is no problem, circumstance,

or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.


I pray that these words be received

into the hearts of every eye that sees it

in Jesus' name. Amen!

Sweet Holy Child

Eversince my youngest came out, we use to hum the Sweet Holy Child song as we rock him in his cradle. It's always been that which makes him sleep soundly. It has become one of my favorite Christian songs too.

SWEET HOLY CHILD

Jesus teach me how to pray
Differ not my thoughts to stray
Send destruction far away
Sweet holy child

Let me not be rude or wild
Make me humble, meek and mild
Pure as angels undefined
Sweet holy child

When I work or when I play
No thou with me through the day
Teach me what to do and say
Sweet holy child

Make me worthy mothers blest
Safe beneath thy care to rest
As a bird within its nest
Sweet holy child

Viva pit senor, Sto. Nino…

Prayer for Filipinos

Dear God,

I pray for fellow Filipinos,
whose lives suffered the wrath of the last typhoon.
Please grant us courage, to face the long road to recovery;
give us enough grace, to accept Your will despite our huge losses;
sustain us with Your love that will protect us from further harm;
and guide us, that the way to You remains,
despite the sadness and desperation that surround us.

This disaster destroyed our possessions;
took so many precious lives;
and has now created a serious challenge
for my home country to overcome...
but nothing can ever take away,
nor ever destroy,
our FAITH.

Where there is faith...there is hope.

We entrust ourselves into Your Hands, Lord.

Amen.

The Prayer

My hubby was telling me how much he hates leaving us behind when he has to travel to another state for work. We're still new here, and I don’t even have a car since he takes our only one with him. I can’t help but rely on friends to get through things, especially with school enrollment coming up and the need for groceries. All we can do is pray, and pray we must, to get through this journey.

Good Friday Passages

Psalm 31: 1, 5, 11, 12, 14 - 16, 24

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.

14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the LORD.

Our tribulations are now in the hands of the Lord. Our sins were taken from us. For this reason, we must forgive ourselves and others. This is the only way we can move on and forward. In his hands, we are safe.

Daily Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so tha t I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it w ith others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning Prayer

I found this prayer somewhere and revised some of it when I was assigned to lead the morning prayer before office time starts:

Prayer made for flag ceremony: Lord, thank you for the gift of life, for another chance, another beginning. Thank you for the blessings that come our way as as those trials you bring. We pray for guidance, for strength, for endurance, for humility and understanding as we face the grind of routine and duty. Give new light for our tasks that we may see them as opportunities rather than work. Help us to discipline our thinking and action to do what's right and not what is easy. May we be able to serve with confidence as we offer this week in your name and glory. Amen.