I have experienced the excitement of building a new house and the creative forces necessary for remodeling an old one—and hope never to do either again! I found renovating an old house, full of history and previous makeovers, to be exhausting and difficult. We frequently needed to recalculate our plans based on the house’s foundation. It’s very much like our marriage. Years ago, Michael and I struggled to even like each other, and I wasn’t sure that our marriage would survive. The obstacles felt too immense to climb.
In a way, we were trying to transform and renovate our marriage without examining its foundation, without addressing the things that tied us up in knots—allowing the devil to take over and “plunder [our] house” (v. 27). It took a while, but we finally got on our knees, together, and vowed to hold hands and pray the Memorare each night, whether we felt like it or not.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those who have been hurt, killed and impacted by terrorist attacks. Come to the side of those experiencing violence in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur, and the Sudan. Please hear the pleas of all those suffering around the world - and give them strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, Darfur and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen
Beautiful devotion today, Maria. I find that communication and prayer are the keys to a stable foundation.
Thank you, Maria, for your inspiring reflection. Very thought provoking. I have special prayer times each day & this quote is very meaningful to me: "There is nothing the devil fears so much, or so much tries to hinder, as prayer." St. Philip Neri. Today is also the feast day of St. Angela Merici & here is one of her quotes: "You will accomplish more by kind words & a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity."
Update… Must be lunch time...Text from Jessi just now, "It rains like NOLA so I’m in luck- torrential downpour then immediate heat to dry it off- no rain jacket needed although it’s nice to keep the mosquitos off" *** She did ask us to pray for ridding of mosquitoes (hahaha) *** Jessi is more concerned (afraid) with bugs than rain :-) I called the night before she left...she was insect repellent proof all her clothes to dry! *** I remember one time I was driving to Chattanooga to see her and she called while I was driving and urged me to arrive soon...so I could kill a sting bug in her plant :-(
When was the last time God used a situation I don't like (getting wet in the rain without a rain coat) to get rid of what can harm me (virus or bacteria infected mosquitoes)?!?!?! I praise God for the rain over the clinic where they serve ✝️
*** Salina, "We did pray for ridding of mosquitoes!!!" *** Jessi, "That we need in plenty so thank you!" *** Salina, "so rain, rain, don't go away, come back to stay and get rid of all the mosquitoes!"
Good information. I didn't about the Memorare prayer. Thanks.
Ah Maria your words ring in my ears. To renovate, and work to put and stay together is a daily task eh? Thank you for your words. We may also extend those prayers that our new president and his cabinet will renovate and transform our country under God again, "One nation under God" May our country no longer be divided. Blessings to all the LFF and especially those needing a wee bit more guidance these days. May we all spread the love of god through all the world for unity under god.
Amen.
My prayer "Lord Jesus, you are my hope and salvation. Be the ruler of my heart and the master of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your lordship." Amen
Love this new song penning my frequent thoughts onto paper, “Oh Death!” by Mercy Me https://youtu.be/zptFkmnCLP8?si=PV6mdqeXzeFqa8vp *** My text to my BSF students co-leader praying for her Dad in ER on Friday, 1/17, “Praying for a peaceful and grateful and joyful transfer and relocation ✝️ my beloved friend ❤️” *** Her text on Monday, 1/20, “Thank you so much Salina. I am grateful! I am grateful for so many things! Grateful that death is gonna die one of these days because our Savior redeemed us & crushed death on our behalf. Grateful that God worked Salvation into my dad’s hard heart. Grateful for how my dad got to say goodbye & I love to all of our family members. Grateful that he expressed love & honor to my mother before he died. Grateful that God crushed my Dad’s body to free his soul. Love you, too, dear friend! Best Sisters Forever ❤️” ******* Loved, “God crushed my Dad’s body to free his soul!” *** It is ok to pray for death, more importantly pray for Salvation so the death is a good death because in Hebrews 9:27, “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment!” *** ✝️ Death is not the end ✝️ But knowing and believing in Jesus is before one dies ✝️ *** John 3:18, “Anyone who believes in Him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. They have not believed in the Name of God’s One and only Son!”
Salina...I love Mercy Me and immediately went to find "Oh Death" ~ who could possibly be afraid of death after listening to that song! I loved the video and how the words were framed! Thank you for sharing! And it sounds like Jessi is embracing where she is and all it's wonders! God Bless!
How often do we “keep a going” (as my Italian grandmother would always say when asked how she was) whether we feel like it or not in our faith journey?
*** Our dead works will never pay for our sins in Hebrews 9:14, “how much more will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” *** Only Jesus and once and for all in Hebrews 9:24-26, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” *** We are born (physically) once, we die (physically and spiritually) twice and if we are born (physically and spiritually) twice, we will die (physically) once (not at all if Jesus comes back while we are still alive) in Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment!” ******* Jesus is coming back ✝️ in Hebrews 9:28, “so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him!” Are you ready for Jesus’ return ?!?!?! *** I praise You Lord ❤️✝️❤️ Great Are You Lord by Casting Crown https://youtu.be/FaP8fKAR2Og?si=0yre0BPBeDKvfat8
*** Jessi last night at 11pm, "Saw lots of bats, birds, and bugs too. And we are close to the equator so I saw Orion’s Belt, the Milky Way, and the southern cross very clearly. It was wild" *** This morning at 6:30am, "Pray for our first day of clinic we are just getting started now" *** BTW, Jessi forgot to bring a rain jacket for serving in the rain forest!
LOVE this. Blessings to Jessi!
Maria that was a beautiful reflection this morning. Going for Oral surgery this morning. Sharing Memorare Names in quotes "" are mine. Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary, [that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions for"" Stormy, Pam Bill, Cheryl, Kevin, Carl, Jane, Chris's medical issues, Debbie and her daughter Anna, Stephanie and Christine who's her caregiver Terry and Dennis and Shelly, Souls in purgatory and those souls who have no one to pray for them. "" Mother in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen Ken
KEN…praying that the oral surgery was successful and not as painful a recovery as you might have thought. Amen.
Thanks to you, Ken, this is my litany of evening prayers. My $.02 worth of remedy, one aspirin or Tylenol when you get home. Novocain usually wears off in about an hour or so. Then gargle with warm salt water.
Uniting my prayers to yours from here -- for your oral surgery, Ken, and for everyone's needs and petitions. We fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother ????
Ken...Ouch! But I will be praying for God's guidance and grace for all who will be caring for you today. Milk shakes, chocolate pudding (forget the Jello!), it's too cold for popsicles so go for creamy mashed potatoes, they will get you through the daze! God Bless and thank you for your prayer, it's one I whisper up every day.
Ken prayers for your oral surgery today and thank you for that prayer. I love that prayer and thank you the petitions you added. Have a safe, smooth comfortable day and recovery.
Praying for you Ken this morning, that all will go well and that you mend quickly.
So enlightening Maria... it's amazing how we all struggle with similar issues... praying for you Ken on your oral surgery
Praying for your oral surgery to be successful and your healing to be swift ✝️
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Maria, as someone who’s renovated….I’m with you 100%. Ensuring the foundation is shored up is critical. Thank you for such a great devotion. Ken, how are you feeling?