A few years ago, I created a new garden next to my driveway. It was only after I’d planted flower seeds that I realized our sprinkler system didn’t reach it. All summer long, I had to lug watering can after watering can to give it what it needed. This past spring, my husband surprised me by adding another sprinkler head that reaches the garden. It’s sheer bliss watching my plants bloom with next to no effort on my part.
When we begin a new program or project and forget to include God in the process, we usually end up doing the heavy lifting to bring it to fruition. Conversely, when we include God and follow his will, he infuses what we do with his Spirit. That’s when we experience the blossoming of our endeavors, not by our efforts but by his grace.
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Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those in need. 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.
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Amen. :)
AMEN!
******* Starting a 40-day prayer journal specifically for my daughter, Katie, the self proclaim agnostic to come back and walk with Jesus, her Savior and soon to be Lord ✝️ *** Day eleven - When my eyes are on Katie, I get worried! But when my eyes are on You, Lord Jesus, I get Word! *** Psalm 33:20-22, "We wait in hope for the Lord. He helps us. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. Our hearts are full of joy because of Him. We trust in Him, because He is holy. Lord, may Your faithful love be with us. We put our hope in You!" Amen ✝️ *** Your peace is beyond my understanding in Philippians 4:6-7, "Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to Him. Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood!" Amen ✝️
Praying for Katie.
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Claire thank you for your comments this morning. I always enjoy your take on things. Claire today's Padre Pio saying is."If we Wish to reap, It is necessary not so much to so abundantly, As to spread the seed in fertile soil. And when this seed becomes a plant, our chief anxiety should be to watch that the weeds do not suffocate the tender plants. " Yesterday I heard a deacon say in the morning "Well Lord what are we going to do today? " My go to prayer is "Holy Spirit guide my mind, Holy Spirit control my thoughts " Whenever my brain wanders or takes me where I don't want to be. Living faith family please pray for my client from Feedmore Margaret she's having adjusting the oxygen level on her machine I promised to pray for her. Also keep Christine and Stephanie and Debbie and Anna in your prayers. Chris went to his primary doctor and seems the iron blood transfusion is working. Ken
Ken, thanks for sharing. Sending prayers for Margaret, that the adjustment is sufficient to meet her needs. Also lifting Christine, Stephanie, Debbie and Anna that the Lord will continue to watch over them and guide their steps. Amen.
Thank you, Ken, for your kind and thoughtful comment. I am adding all your prayer intentions to mine. Great news about Chris!
Do you think I can decide the outcome of my plan and ask God to bless the outcome? *** Not asking God to give me what I want but to learn to want what God has already planned for me! Proverbs 16;9, “ In their hearts human beings plan their lives.But the Lord decides where their steps will take them!” *** Many times people start dating someone they decide to marry and then ask God to bless their union! How many will ask God to send the one He has planned for them as the spouse before dating anyone? How many people will actually look to God’s Word first before dating, planning, desiring or anything? *** Psalm 37:23-24, “The Lord makes secure the footsteps of the person who delights in Him, Even if that person trips, he won’t fall. The Lord’s hand takes good care of him!” ******* The question is , “Am I walking with (following) God or is God walking with (following) me?” Do you know the difference? Luke 7:15, “Blessed are they who have kept the Word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance!” *** Do you think God will answer my prayer for the dead who did not walk with God? Luke 6:25-26, “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember what happened in your lifetime. You received your good things. Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in terrible pain. Besides, a wide space has been placed between us and you. So those who want to go from here to you can’t go. And no one can cross over from there to us.’” *** Hebrews 9:27-28a, “People have to die once. After that, God will judge them. In the same way, Christ was offered up once. He took away the sins of many people!” *** How many times I have done something out of God’s plan and will, and I ask God to bless it? Have you? ******* It is so very important that I tell everyone to study and understand God’s Word, so they listen and follow in this life! Luke 16:29-31, “Abraham replied, ‘They have the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will turn away from their sins.’ “Abraham said to him, ‘They do not listen to Moses and the Prophets. So they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’”
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My prayer "Lord Jesus, you are my joy and my treasure. Make me rich in the things of heaven and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others the spiritual and material treasures you have given to me." Amen
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Praying for the Pope. Praying for immigrants, for workers losing their jobs, and for the poor, hungry and sick across the world who are in need of food and medical aid. Praying for Ukraine and its people.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
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Thank you Claire for today’s message. Today we are starting a 3 week Bible Study on Lent. Some wonder what more is there to learn about the season of Lent? But as always when we open ourselves to God’s word there is so much more to discover as to how it pertains to my life. So today I am praying that as we invite God in to our study, He will inspire and reveal to us so much more than we could ever imagine.
Praying that Bible study is a sprinkler to your soul, Anne, watering the new seeds He wants to plant in you.
Indeed, Anne! Your prayer will be answered for you and your Bible study group, “He will inspire and reveal to us so much more than we could ever imagine!”because God has already said it in Isaiah 55:10-11, “The rain and the snow come down from the sky. They do not return to it without watering the earth. They make plants come up and grow. The plants produce seeds for farmers. They also produce food for people to eat. The words I speak are like that. They will not return to Me without producing results. They will accomplish what I want them to. They will do exactly what I sent them to do!” *** My prayer for you and your Bible study group for the next 3 weeks in Ephesians 3:19-21, “And may you know His love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you. God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us. Give Him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give Him glory through all time and for ever and ever. Amen!”
Amen! Beautiful reflection Claire. " No More Heavy Lifting!" God becomes Inclusive in everything we undertake in this life. Without Him, all plans and projects are baseless. We must therefore; "Let go, and let God." Only in and with Him, the lifting becomes lighter. Father, have your way in, with and through us, Amen.Sending prayers and blessings to all with special needs and intentions today. Peace and love Living Faith Family.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, so beautifully written!
Amen... thank you Claire for another pensive refection... at mass on Sunday, Father let it be known to us quite loudly that we have to include Christ at every step and endeavor we make
I feel as if God reminds me quite loudly too, Cheryl. Yet, it always astounds me that I keep forgetting. Here's hoping everyone at Mass heard his message. :)
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Gracious God, water my efforts with your grace so I always bear fruit for you. Only God see all the efforts I've do and suffering I have been. May all these be fruitful in your time. Amen