Day 60 +++

Well, day 60 has come and gone. I did pray daily for 60 days, despite being ill with a stomach infection. Just before I got sick, I saw in the news that U.S. troops had uncovered bombs hardwired and built into the actual structure of a school for Iraqi girls that was just finishing construction. If the bomb had detonated (as planned) during the time that school was in full operation over 430 students, faculty and staff would have killed and/or seriously injured. So I would definitely call the discovery of this plot and its prevention an answer to prayers! Praise God that so many innocent young lives were spared.

The fact that anyone would be willing to assist in such a plot to harm innocent children in order to further their political agenda, however, is evidence that more prayers are still needed. At this point I am unable to continue my commitment to pray diligently each and every day. But I will continue to pray, when I can, and sincerely hope that you will too! Please feel free to share your insights, thoughts, Bible verses, etc. with me and I will post them -- as I will not be able write much for a while. I have a lot of catching up to do in the rest of my life. With 3 young children, if you blink you miss so very much of their young lives. God Bless and may God grant us all a safe, peaceful and happy summer.

And God Bless fathers everywhere around the world (Father's Day was June 17), especially those who are away from their homes and their families at this time. Amen.

Keep Praying Please!

I have been sick and unable to write lately. I have been praying though. I have also read some wonderful passages in the Bible that I feel are relevant today and to our prayers for peace. I hope to be able to share them with you shortly.

Keep praying please! With the rise in violence in Baghdad our prayers are needed now more than ever.

God Bless, guide, and inspire you one and all.

Day 44 & 45 Contrast of the Old Covenant With the New Covenant

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again ...


[2 Corinthians, Chapter 3: 1-18, Second Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians ]

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written on our heats, known and read by all, shown to be letter of Christ administered by us, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Contrast With the Old Covenant

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Therefore, since we have such hope, we act very boldly and not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites could not look intently at cessation of what was fading. Rather, their thoughts were rendered dull, for to this present day the same veil remains unlifted when they read the old covenant, because through Christ it is taken away. To this day, in fact, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, but wherever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.


When you hear on the news that "a series of suicide bombing attacks have killed as many as 173 today", you can feel a bit down. But keep in mind that God gives us (everyone) free will and that change takes time. Also news of what we are praying for will not immediately manifest itself in the mainstream media. So do not loose heart and keep praying.

As I have been praying, it comes to me that those who have received the Spirit and may be in search of God's word and knowledge of his Son, Jesus Christ, may have a hard time laying their hands on the written word of the Bible in their native language. So I am going to look into the possibility of purchasing Bibles, written in different languages, and having them shipped to locations where they could made available to those who want to own a Bible (free of charge). If anyone has any ideas or information about how to do this: please leave a comment, or send us an email at peaceifwepray@gmail.com.

God Bless and have a Spirit filled day and rest of the week.

Day 42 & 43 and the "Divine Mercy" of Jesus ...

Well the week of Easter celebration has completed with the celebration of the 2nd Sunday of Easter, this past Sunday April 15. We are now on day 42 -- as of Monday, April 16th -- of this prayer campaign and today is Tuesday, April 17th and Day 43.

After having problems with my computer & software and being sick. I (at last) have time and am able to write again. I have been praying though and hopefully you have as well.

This past Sunday, the 2nd Sunday of Easter is also known as "Divine Mercy Sunday". It reminds us of the power of redemption that Jesus has made available, to all who believe, by his sacrifice and death on the cross as payment for our sins, past, present and future.

As the United State mourns for the meaningless loss of innocent life on the Virginia Technical University canpus, let us keep in mind the Divine Mercy of Jesus and pray for a healing of those who lost loved ones in this unfortunate incident. May Jesus grant them peace and comfort in their time of need. May He also grant the United States, as nation, peace and healing.

May God awaken in all of us an awareness of the needs of those around us -- even complete strangers -- especially those who may be isolated and lonely. Let us each be willing to step outside of our 'comfort zones' to reach to out to those who may be in need of comfort and just knowing that someone out there cares about them. May God speak through us what these people need to hear to find peace and comfort in their lives.

Keep praying. God Bless, guide and inspire you!

Day 33, 34 & 35 Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday and Monday

On the Easter Vigil (Saturday Evening) we begin to have hope. New members of the church become full-fledged participants in the celebration of the mass. We light the Easter Vigil candle and pass the light throughout the darkened church to symbolize that Jesus Christ brings light to all who were once in darkness by His sacrafice, in dying on the cross. He is the light of the world. He frees us sin and death, and in doing so He grants us eternal salvation.

On Easter Sunday, we REJOICE: for Jesus is risen! And we can once again say/sing "Hallelujah" -- for this word is not part of the weekly celebration of the mass during Lent. My 5 year old -- who just turned 6 ... we celebrated her birthday with family on Easter this year -- was overjoyed when the closing song for the Easter Sunday mass was "Alleluia, Alleluia!" "Mommy we get say to say 'Hallelujah' again!" She shouted, grinning from ear to ear.

I hope that all of you had a blessed weekend, and Easter celebration -- for those of you who celebrated. I hope that your hearts feel lighter and that your lives are brighter. I hope that Jesus' command to "love one another" remains with us all. And that His PEACE fill ours lives and spreads to others throughout the world, just like the light of the Easter Vigil candle spreads through the darkened church during the mass of the Easter Vigil.

During Lent, I am especially reminded that we are not only called to "love one another", but we are called to serve one another as well. [ "Faith and Works," James 2:14-26 ]

I have tried to teach this to my children. This year we visited a Nursing home and spent time with elderly people who are often lonely and isolated. It was very rewarding for the children as well as the elderly nursing home residents. I am sure that we will go back again soon. Life can be busy and overwhelming for all of us at times, but we should all strive to think others when we can and to teach (by our example) our children this as well. Sometimes giving of our time can be much more meaningful than just giving of our treasure.

God Bless and keep praying for PEACE and for those who have received the Holy Spirit, that they will seek out God's word and knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. For He [Jesus Christ] is risen and the Advocate that He promised, the Holy Spirit, is alive among us. Allelulia! Allelulia!

30, 31 & 32 Good Friday ...

Sacrifice of Jesus

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
[ Hebrews 9:11-15 ]


The Advocate

[Jesus said to his disciples during the course of the Last Super] "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be with you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I will live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name -- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ' I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."
[John 14:15-21]

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment:love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the father in my name He may give you. This I command you: love one another."
[John 15:9-17]


The World's Hatred

[Jesus said to his disciples in his last hours] "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.

Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but it is they who have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me also hates my Father. If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, 'They hated me without cause'.

When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning."
[ John 15: 18-27 ]


Jesus' Departure: Coming of the Advocate

"I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you ask me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard too sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you all to truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."
[ John 16:1-15 ]

"I have told you this in figure of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

"Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."
[ John 16:25-33 ]


The Prayer of Jesus

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began."

"I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more that I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I send them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth."

"I pray not only for them, but also for those for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them even as you loved me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."



At the conclusion of this speech Jesus went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden where he and his disciples often met. It was in this garden that Jesus and his disciples would pray before Judas, his betrayer, would arrive with a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus. Jesus would then be tried by Pontious Pilate and be condemned to death by crucifixion. He would suffer enormously at the hands of his captors, before carrying his very own cross through the streets to the place of Golgotha, where on this very day [Good Friday], he was crucified on the cross to pay for our sins and deliver redemption and the inheritance of eternal salvation to all who believe.

Those who believe reflect quietly on this, and following days, awaiting the joyful third day when Jesus defying death, was resurrected on Easter Sunday. I, myself, will also pray for those who will come to know Jesus through the receiving of the Holy Spirit and opening of their hearts to His word, the word of the Father who sent Him. For as Jesus said to his disciples in his final hours with them:

"I pray for those for those who will believe in me [Jesus] through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me [Jesus] and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me."

[For detailed reflection of the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection please see [John Chpts. 18-21] ].


Sacrifice of Jesus

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed,how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.
[ Hebrews 9:11-15 ]

Day 27, 28 & 29

(for Sunday, Monday & Tuesday (April 3))

Prayer and Conduct

First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, and petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.


For there is on God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human,who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle ( I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. [ 1 Timothy, 2: 1-8 ]


Jesus Superior to Moses

Therefore, holy "brothers," sharing in a heavenly calling, reflect on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to the One who appointed him, just as Moses was "faithful in [all] his house." But Jesus is worthy of more "glory" than Moses, as a founder of a house has more "honor" than the house itself. Every house is founded by someone, but the founder of all is God. Moses was a "faithful"in all his house" as a "servant" to testify to what would be spoken, but Christ was faithful as a son placed over his house. We are his house, if [only] we hold fast to our confidence and pride in our hope.


Therefore, as the holy Spirit says:
"Oh, that today you would hear his voice, 'Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion' in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my work for forty years.
Because of this I was provoked with that generation and I said "They have always been erring of heart,and they do not know my ways."
As I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest." "

Take care my brothers, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still "today," so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end, for it is said:

"Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion.'"
Who were those who rebelled when they heard? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt under Moses? With whom was he "provoked for forty years"? Was it not those who had sinned, whose corpses fell in the desert? And to whom did he "swear that they should not enter into his rest," if not to those who were disobedient? And we see that they could not enter for lack of faith. [Hebrews 3:1-19]


Jesus Compassionate High Priest

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. [Hebrews 4:14-16]


We are still praying! I apologize for taking some time before writing again. I have very bad insomnia as of late and have had little sleep -- getting 2 hours or less most nights and not being to sleep at all some nights -- over the course of the last week. It has taken a toll on my ability to focus and do the things that I have been called to do.

But please keep praying with us! I strongly feel that our prayers are making a difference.

God Bless us one and all as we approach Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday and Monday, and may He in his infinite wisdom grant us peace. Amen.

Day 25 & 26 Call to Love One Another ...

Doers of the Word

Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres,and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in all he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows n their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [2 James 1:19-27]


Love For One Another

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. Do not be amazed [then,] brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

The way we came to know love was that He [Jesus] laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. [1 John 3:11-18]


Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves,for you also are in the body. [Hebrews 13:1-3]


If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything that I own, and hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude,it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain these three; but the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:1-10 and 12-13]


Christian Conduct

Finally, all of you be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called that you might inherit a blessing. For:

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers."[1 Peter 3: 8-12]



Entry for: Day 26


God's Love and Christian Life

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit.

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us [by the gift of his only Son, Jesus Christ].God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. [1 John 4:7-13, 16-21]


Inheritance through the Spirit

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory. [Ephesians 1:11-14]


One in Christ

Therefore, remember that at one time you, Gentiles in the flesh ... were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in the place of two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.[Ephesians 2:11-22]


Unity of the Body

I then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [Ephesians 4: 1-6]


[The encouraging words of Paul to Timothy regarding his call to witness for God apply to each of us, brothers one and all, even today:]

"He saved us and called us to holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began...". [2 Timothy 1:9]

Day 24

[About the Writings of the Bible]
Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture [the Bible] that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather from human beings [who] moved by the Holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God. [2 Peter 1:20-21]

Apostolic Witness

We [the disciples] did not follow cleverly deceived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while were with him [Jesus] on the holy mountain. [ 2 Peter 1:16-19]


False Teachers Denounced

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to revile glorious beings, whereas angels, despite their superior strength and power, do not bring a reviling judgment against them from the Lord. But these people, like irrational animals born by nature for capture and destruction, revile things that they do not understand, and in their destruction they will also be destroyed, suffering wrong as payment for wrong doing. [2 Peter 2:11-13]

Warning Against False Doctrine

I repeat the request I made of you when I was on my way to Macedonia, that you stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith. The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, wanting to be teachers of the of the law, but without understanding neither what they are saying nor what they assert with such assurance. [1 Timothy 1:3-7]

Testing the Spirits

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us [scriptures (of the Bible)], while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. [1 John 4:1-6]

Warning Against Useless Disputes

Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription "The Lord knows who are his"; and"Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord avoid evil."

So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart. Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed quarrels. A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them [Bible study note:teachers of false doctrine] repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to their senses out of the devil's snare where they are entrapped by him, for his will. [2 Timothy 2:14-14, 19 & 23-26]

Confession and Intercession

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. Elijah was a human being like us; yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and for three hundred years and six months it did not rain upon the land. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Conversion of Sinners

My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. [James 5:16-20]

Day 23, Bear Your Trials as Discipline ...

Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not [then] submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.

At the time, discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen you drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet ... Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. [Hebrews: 12 7-13]

God Bless All. Amen.

Day 22, A Message of Hope and Encouragement for a Country in Need

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Things have been busy and hectic here. Such is life for all at times. Anyway, as I prayed this evening/early morning: I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me in my prayer -- as I was physically and mentally tired. I said a few words of prayer and then allowed my Bible to open to the page that it would -- at random ... led by the Holy Spirit.

These are the words that I found and I feel as if these words are words of encouragement, meant for those in a country with much need and need for encouragement at this time (Iraq):

"And take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. This is the pact that I made with you when you came out of Egypt, And my spirit continues in your midst; do not fear!

For thus says the Lord of hosts: One moment yet, a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth,the sea and the dry land. I will shake the nations, and the treasure of all the nations will come in, And I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.

Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the Lord of hosts. Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former, says the Lord of hosts; And in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of hosts." [Haggai 2:4-9]


The Lords Peace Be With Each and Every One of You. Amen.

Days 18-21, Still Praying!

We are still praying! No new insights, or points of interest to share. Let me know if you have any and thank you for your continued prayers. God Bless!

Day 17, Jesus Prays for All Believers

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Jesus speaks to a Samaritan Woman [John 4:21-24]

"Believe me, woman an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. Your people worship what you do not understand, while we understand what we worship; after all, salvation is from the Jews. Yet an hour is coming, and is already here, when authentic worshipers will worship the Father is Spirit and truth. Indeed, it is just such worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth."

Jesus Prayer For All Believers (before he is arrested) [John 17:20-26]

"I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word, that all may be one as you, Father are in me, and I in you; I pray that they may be [one] in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me that they may be one, as we are one -- I living in them, you living in me -- that their unity may be complete. So shall the world know that you sent me, and that you loved them as you loved me.

Father, all those you gave me I would have in my company where I am, to see this glory of mine which is your gift to me, because of the love you bore me before the world began. Just Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these men have known that you sent me. To them I have revealed your name, and I will continue to reveal it so that your love for me may live in them, and I may live in them."

Please continue your prayer efforts. I do feel that we are making an impact. God Bless you and yours!

Day 16

We are still praying! Your prayers and reflections are greatly appreciated. I have faith that they are making a difference.

In light of a news story this morning saying that children were left in a car as a diversion before a car bomb exploded in that car: I will pray more earnestly for protection of the innocent against these sorts of violence. I had been praying for the safety of pilgrims making their religious pilgrimages and for a cessation of violence against them.

Keep praying! God Bless!

Day 15, Let us raise our voices, united, in prayer ...

I used to have a hard time reading the Bible. I was like a traveler with a detailed map, but I had no compass, nor idea of the direction of true North. Lately, however, when I read the Bible it is as if a brilliant light has been turned on for me. The Holy Spirit has truly awakened in me, and is showing me the true beauty, richness, and meaning in the Bible ... or perhaps it is just that I have finally chosen to take -- and find -- the time to slow down and listen.

I now see the Bible as a rich tapestry of history, interwoven with a message that is as applicable today as it was in the times that it was originally written. And I feel a sense of some of the personalities and lives of the authors -- albeit inspired by God as they were -- behind the writings in the Bible.

I feel especially inspired by Paul and his letters to the Romans, Corinthians and Galatians. Paul's primary message: that we are all children of the same God, even if the details of our daily lives and particular ways of worship may differ slightly, is especially relevant today, in an age of so many diverse religions, dogmas, traditions and beliefs. There seems to be so much emphasis on our differences that we fail to realize a key point: that we all worship the same God; we just worship in slightly different ways. And those 'slightly different ways' are preferences of man, not God.

As a brilliant man once said,"God is in the details" [Albert Einstein]. So why not let us leave the details to God and stop wasting precious energy focusing on our differences. We accomplish very little that way. But on the other hand, just think what we could accomplish together! Lifting our voices in prayer, praise and petition to God our Heavenly Father.

The study text in my Bible says this at the introduction of the 'Epistle of Paul to the Romans':"The implication of Paul's exposition of justification by faith rather than by the law is that the divine plan of salvation works itself out on a broad theological plane to include the whole of humanity despite the differences in the content of the given religious system to which a human culture is heir."
And I couldn't agree more! Hence this prayer campaign.

I would like to close today's entry with the following text from the 'Epistle of Paul to the Romans':

Triumph of God's Mercy

Just as you were once disobedient to God and now have received mercy through their disobedience, so they have become disobedient -- since God wished to show you mercy -- that they too may receive mercy.

God has imprisoned all in disobedience that he might have mercy on all.

How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable his judgements, how unsearchable his ways! For, who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has given him anything so as to deserve return? For from him and through him and for him all things are.To him be glory forever. Amen.[Romans 11:30-36]

Sacrifice of Body and Mind

AND NOW BROTHERS, I BEG YOU through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.[Romans 12:1-2]


May the Lord continue to Bless,Guide, and Inspire us, one and all, through the grace and gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P.S. In watching news reports of late, I feel the need to emphasize prayer petitions for the basic physical needs of those living without (i.e., food, water, shelter, sanitation, electricity, medical care, and safety in their own homes and neighborhoods) -- and not just spiritual needs. Thank you once again for your prayers!

Day 12, 13 & 14: If God is for us who can be against?

Lately, in my praying (late at night) I have been reading the Bible quite a lot. I pray before I begin to read the Bible that God will use the Holy Spirit to guide me in my readings and understanding of what I read. The passages that I will share with you are ones that I have been lead to and that I feel have relevance to what we are praying for. Most of the time, I won't elaborate as to why I feel these passages are relevant to this prayer campaign. I'll leave you to reflect on that for yourself. Feel free, however, to leave your comments and insights -- if you would like.

The following Bible passages come to us from Paul's letters to the Romans:

Sons of God Through Adoption

All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you back into fear, but a spirit of adoption through which we cry out, "Abba!" (that is Father).The Spirit himself gives witness with our spirit that we are children of God. But if we are children of God, we are heirs as well: heirs of God, heirs of with Christ, if only we suffer with him so as to be glorified with him. [Romans 8:14-17]

The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in speech. He who searches hearts knows what the Spirit means, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints as God himself wills.[Romans 8:26-27]

Gods Love for Man

We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he predestined to share the image of his Son, that the Son might be the first-born of many brothers. Those he predestined, he likewise called; those he called he also justified; and those he justified he in turn glorified.

What shall we say after that? If God is for us, who can be against us? Is it possible that he who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides?Who shall bring a charge against God's chosen ones? God who justifies? Who shall condemn them? Christ Jesus, who died or rather was raised up, who is at the right hand of God and who intercedes for us?

Indomitable Love for Christ

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Trial, or distress, or persecution, or hunger or nakedness,or danger, or the sword? As Scripture says: "For your sake we are being slain all the day long; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered." Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of him who loved us. For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. [Romans 8:28-39]



I apologize for not being able to write on Saturday. I did, however, pray. I will not be writing on any Sundays. And there are days where I will group entries into multiple days. Once again,I sincerely thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of this prayer campaign. God Bless each and every one of you. Have a wonderful day!

Day 10 & 11

We are still praying. Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless!

Day 9

From the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians:

In him we were chosen; for in the decree of God, who administers everything according to his will and counsel, we were predestined to praise his glory by being the first to hope in Christ. In him you too were chosen; when you heard the glad tidings of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit who had been promised. He is the pledge of our inheritance, the first payment against the full redemption of a people God has made his own, to praise his glory. [Ephesians 1:11-14]

Let us, then, be children no longer, tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine that originates in human trickery and skill in proposing error. Rather, let us profess the truth in love and grow to the full maturity of Christ the head. Through him the whole body grows, and with the proper functioning of the members joined firmly together by each supporting ligament, builds itself up in love. [Ephesians 4:14-16]

At every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayers and petitions of every sort. Pray constantly and attentively for all in the holy company. [Ephesians 6:18]

God Bless You One and All! Thank You for your continued prayers. Have a Spirit filled day.

Day 8, It has been done before ...

In praying last night, I read the Bible and was lead to the Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 10 and 11. It is too much to relay every detail of the story here. Basically Peter has a vision given to him by God.

In chapter 11:5-10, Peter says "I was at prayer in the city of Joppa when, in a trance, I saw a vision. An object like a big canvas came down; it was lowered down to me from the sky by its four corners. As I stared at it, I could make out four-legged creatures of the earth, wild beasts and reptiles, and birds of the sky. I listened as a voice said to me, 'Get up , Peter! Slaughter, then eat.' I replied: 'Not for a moment, sir! Nothing unclean or impure has ever entered my mouth! A second time the voice from the heaven spoke out: 'What God has purified you are not to call unclean.' This happened three times; then the canvas with everything in it was drawn up again into the sky."

Now at this time there was a wealthy Gentile, named Cornelius. He was a centurion of the Roman cohort Italica. He was a religious and God-fearing man, but he was a Gentile. He had a habit of giving generously to the people and he constantly prayed to God. One afternoon, Cornelius had a vision in which he very clearly saw messenger, robed in light, coming toward him. The messenger addressed Cornelius and said: "Your prayers and your generosity have risen in God's sight, and because of them he has remembered you. Send some men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, known as Peter." [Acts 10:1-8] So Cornelius immediately summoned two of his servants and sent them to find and summon Peter.

Conrelius's servants entered to find Peter just as his vision had ended. As the spirit in Peter's vision had instructed him to follow the servants that would come without hesitation, Peter and six of his brother's went with the servants to Cornelius' house in Caesarea. The next day they arrived in Caesarea.

Cornelius who was expecting Peter's party had invited his family and several close friends over to attend the gathering. Upon entering, Peter addresses the assembly as follows: "You know must know that it is not proper for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or have dealings with him. But God has made it clear to me that no one should call any man unclean or impure." Peter then asks why Cornelius has summoned him. Cornelius relays his vision and reason for summoning Peter. Peter then begins to address the crowd about Jesus of Nazareth's life, death, resurrection, and appearance after his death to the prophets to call them to bear witness to his name and spread his message of hope, redemption and salvation.

[Acts 10:44-48]: "Peter had not finished his words of address, when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter's message. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, whom they could hear speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Peter put the question at that point: 'What can stop these people who have received the Holy Spirit, even as we have, from being baptized with water? So he gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.' After this was done, they asked him to stay for a few more days."

In subsequent discussions with the assembly Peter says "As I began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them, just as it had upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If God was giving them the same gift he gave us when we first believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to interfere with him?" When Peter's brothers heard these words they stopped objecting, and instead began to glorify God in these words: "If this be so, then God has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles." [Acts 11:15-18]

Thus, I strongly feel that what we ask for in this prayer campaign is not beyond reason. If it is the will of God, it can be done now as it has been done before.

Let us pray,
"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth."

Day 7

Matthew 11:25-26
On one occasion Jesus spoke thus: "Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to you I offer praise; for what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children. Father it is true. You have graciously willed it so."

Words of wisdom from my 5-year old ... "Everyone has Jesus in their hearts Mommy. Some people just don't know it though." E.J.

Matthew 7:1-5
Avoiding Judgement

Jesus said,
"If you want to avoid judgement, stop passing judgement. Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you. Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you miss the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take that speck out of your eye,' while all the time the plank remains in your own? You hypocrite! Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother's eye. "

Matthew 7:7-11
The Power of Prayer

Jesus said, "Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. For the one who asks receives. The one who seeks, finds. The one who knocks, enters. Would one of you hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf, or a poisonous snake when he asks for a fish? If you, with all of your sins, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to anyone who asks him!"

Mathew 12:31-32
[Jesus said to the Pharisees] "That, I assure you, is why every sin, every blasphemey, will be forgiven men, but those who blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever says anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven. Whoever says anything against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
[Bible text footnote: 12,31f:"The pharisees are said to attribute Jesus' exorcisms to satanic powers and thus to deny the unique presence of God in Jesus. They thereby assign his entire work and teaching to an evil principle, making it anti-God. This is the 'blasphemy against the Spirit' that will not be forgiven, because it negates the evidence of God's saving action in history. However, misunderstandings of Jesus' teaching and misconceptions of his Person due to human error or predjudice will be forgiven (Acts 9, 4f; 1 Tm 1, 13)."]

God Bless All! Keep praying!

Days 5 & 6

peaceifwepray@gmail.com

We are still praying. My 5 year-old crawled into be with me last night and wanted to pray with me. So we prayed together.

Haven't had much time to watch news these last few busy days. Anything new?

God Bless! Have a great weekend. I will make an entry on Monday again.

Day 5, Still Praying ...

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Some have asked: why this particular prayer issue? Well ...

1) It is a prayer issue that I don't feel that most, if any, people of prayer are addressing. It is just not in the mainstream thought.

I mean I had been praying and praying for months and a year++, and it wasn't until I asked God -- in my prayer -- what am I not doing in my prayer? What more, or what else can I do? Then, God gave me this answer of prayer.

2) I feel as if God wants me -- and others -- to pray for this. It is an area where change is not likely to come about on its own ... an area where it would take a miracle for change to occur ... and isn't that where prayer comes in? Where God comes in?

3) If change does -- and I have faith that it will -- occur here, as a result of prayer, it may make more people believe in God and in the power of prayer itself.

In closing, take a moment out of your busy day and pray! We all have busy lives and many things to do. It's easy to think, "Well, let someone else worry about prayer: I don't have time." But if you don't, truly, who will?

Sometimes in life, you have to step up the plate and go to bat for what you believe in instead of waiting for others to do it for you. Too many of us just go through the motions of being a good Christian, or follower of God. We attend church on Sundays, and sometimes Wednesdays. We follow all of the traditions and rites of our particular religious affiliation, etc.: isn't that enough?

But you have to ask yourself: "How is my relationship with God? Do I even really have one? Do I talk to God, do I pray to to Him? Not just Ask Him for what I need, but Praise Him for the good in my life? Yield to His will for my life -- or even listen to His will? "


Maybe as we pray, we should be asking for God to come more fully into our lives and show us the ways that we can truly be better stewards of His Love, Grace and Wisdom here on Earth.


Let us pray ( a prayer from my Sunday Missal, for Petecost Sunday):
"Let us pray [in the Spririt who dwells within us] Father of light, from whom every good gift comes, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom open the horizons of our minds.

Loose our tounges to sing your praise in words beyond the power of speech, for without your Spirit man could never raise his voice in words of PEACE or announce the truth that Jesus is Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

God Bless! Have a great day and keep praying!

Day 4, Some Thoughts on Prayer

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Many people have confided in me that they don't pray very often because they do not really know how, or they just don't feel comfortable with prayer. I am no expert, but I would like to share my philosophy on prayer with you today.

I know many people are frightened by the concept of prayer. Prayer seems so foreign and formal. It doesn't have to be though.

There are many formal and written prayers that we can read and use in various situations. Written prayers help us to get the conversation going, but you don't have to use these prayers exclusively. Nor do you have to be some guru capable of profound thought and verbage. You don't have to pray for long periods of time either.

Prayer can be as simple as a "conversation" with God. It does help, however, to find a semi-quiet moment so that you can truly focus on the conversation, open your heart and mind, and "listen." Otherwise,the conversation may be a bit one-sided. The more you pray, the easier prayer will become and the better you will become at listening.

This is what I taught my Children (based on an issue of "Clubhouse JR.," from Focus on the Family,last March I believe?):

P for Praise -- Worship God for who He is and give thanks for all He has done. Pslam 135:1-3

R for Repent -- Admit to God what you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness. Acts 3:19

A for Ask -- Tell God your needs and pray for the needs of others. Matthew 7:7-8

Y for Yield -- Let God know that you will trust Him and obey His commands. James 4:7-8

Prayer can be any combination of the above.

For me prayer is just an intergral part of my day. For example, I saw a man at Home Depot this afternoon, while waiting in the checkout line. He looked like he was in was 60's -- but that's not really relevant. He stood slightly stooped, as if his back was in pain, and he was moving very slowly. He looked as if he was in a lot of pain -- maybe due to arthritis. Without thinking, I thought: "God please Bless this man. Ease his pain, losen his joints, and heal him so that he can do the things he needs and wants to do free of pain." And that was a prayer.

Sometimes, we may not feel worthy of prayer. At those times, we probably need to "Ask": that is search our hearts for things that we may have done, thought, or said that make us feel less than worthy of God's love, attention and time. Then ask for His forgiveness and His grace to refrain from doing those things again.

Another thing that can get in the way of prayer is intellect. It's just hard for people who think a lot to slow down, focus, and pray. It's just "not logical" to them. I consider myself a very smart person and I pray, but I know a lot of smart people who just don't feel comfortable with the whole concept of prayer. For those smart people who feel uncomfortable with the concept of prayer, I would start by asking for God's help and grace to open their hearts and minds to His voice. Maybe use some words like the following:

"Dear God. Here I am. The concept of prayers is new and foreign to me. Help me sit quietly for a few moments and allow the Holy Spirit to awaken in me (if you have been baptized) -- or send the Holy Spirit down* upon me -- that I may feel the peace of Your presence and learn how to speak with You."

[*Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always."
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Those who do not love me do not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine butthat of the Father who sent me.
I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." John 14:15-16, 23b-26]


And remember: Smart people usually try something before they pass judgement on it.

The bottom line is: don't be intimidated by prayer! You are worthy of God's time and attention,and you can make a difference in both your life, and the lives of others, through prayer. I promise!

Jesus said "My grace is enough for you, for in weakness my power reaches perfection."
2 Corinthians 12:9

So let us join our voices together and pray, for Jesus has said "Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatever, it shall be granted you by my Father in heaven. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst."
Matthew 18:19-20

May God Bless Us One and All, but especially those are just beginning to embark on their prayer journey. Amen.

Day 3, An Answer to Prayers?

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I was watching ABC Nightly News yesterday evening (with Elizabeth Vargas), and I nearly – literally! – fell off of my chair when I heard good news coming from the mainstream media about the War in Iraq. I mean, I can't honestly recall the last time that I heard the mainstream media say anything good, or upbeat, about the War in Iraq. Can you?

This news clip was, SADLY, preceded by bad news that a warring faction had immersed 2 suicide bombers within a crowd of Shiite pilgrims making their way to Karbala for an upcoming holy day. The bombers managed to kill at least 100? Pilgrims – I believe the actual numbers, at this point, are still speculation and need to confirmed ... but may God Bless the souls of these innocent people and their loved ones left behind.

After the above story, the tone of the news update on Iraq turned (to me, surprisingly) upbeat, with Elizabeth Vargas saying that despite today’s suicide bombing that people (civilians), in general, felt that things were beginning to look better in Iraq.

The news story closed with a footnote about a military victory, and capturing of a key city -- by Western forces -- in the South, called Sadr. Former attempts to secure this city had failed as it was the strong hold of the anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadrand his guerilla forces. Western forces were quoted as saying that they took the city with relative ease and were surprised by the warm welcome that they received from the Iraqi people there.

Here is a link to the ABC News website, with a related news clip on this story:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2929567&page=1
The headline reads: "Despite Recent Suicide Bombs, Violence Appears Calmer in Baghdad."

Go check it out for yourself. Obviously, the "words-only" news clip is not as upbeat as the actual newscast was with its actual interviews of Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers. But to me: it was the sign I need to continue on with this campaign.

I’d call that an answer to prayers! I know that there is still much prayer that needs to be done, but I feel as if I am not out in left field, and that I’m on the right track with this prayer campaign. Praise God!

Thank you to all of you who have responded to me, via email, that you will pray with me. Thank you for sharing your ideas, concerns, and opinions as well. Your input is truly invaluable! I don’t know for sure how many people are praying with us, but it is at least 2: because we have seen that God is listening.

Someone left a comment asking why 2 months? Well, it seemed like an attainable goal. It may take longer. We’ll have to see where we are at in two months. They also asked if I would pray all day, everyday. Well, as much as I would love to be able to do that: I am but a humble mother of 3 demanding, and energetic, young school age children, and I work from home. I want to be present and engaged in my kids lives – and my husband’s too : ) -- so at this point in my life, I simply can’t do all day everyday. But I do pray often throughout the day, in quiet moments (i.e., on coffee breaks, while getting ready in the morning, sitting in the car waiting to pick up the kids at the end of their school day, etc.). I am also an insomniac, so I try to put the times that I can’t sleep to good use by praying.

In closing, let me say that I know that there are a lot of important issues out there in the world today (i.e., hunger in Africa and other parts of the world, ethnic cleansing in Africa, and cruel, and often violent, treatment and repression of women around the world ...to name a few). I am not saying that the issue of this Prayer Campaign is any more important than that of the other issues out there in the world today. But, I was called to address this particular issue, so that is what I am doing. I do still pray for people in need in other parts of the world, but right now my foremost attention is to this particular issue and this Prayer Campaign.

I also know that the War in Iraq has divided many Americans, but for the sake of this campaign: I would ask that we sincerely try to put politics aside and pray together for the greater good.


God Bless You One and All!

P.S. If you would like to leave a comment to let us know that you are praying with us, it would be greatly appreciated! (Note: I understand the need for privacy, and for that reason: I have allowed you to leave a message, comment or question, as "Anonymous" (meaning no identity). Just click the "Anonymous" button when the comment window pops up.) I am working on a creating a guestbook/petition for people to sign.

Day 2, and I DID Sleep ...

peaceifwepray@gmail.com

I DID sleep last night. Praise God! Things are much clearer after a good nights sleep.

Here are some thoughts on prayer in general:

The wonderful thing about prayer is that you don't have to be famous, or have lots of money, or influence, in order to be heard. You personally -- each and everyone of you -- have a direct line to God. Most of you don't use it though?

God does not always answer our prayers in our time, and sometimes, He answers in ways that we do not understand, but He does hear us, He does listen, and He does care.

If you are not one who is accustomed to praying, or if you have doubts as to prayers effectiveness: why not give it a chance? What have you got to loose? I mean, you buy lottery tickets? Prayer is FREE and you have a better chance of winning.

One thing to remember when you pray: you need to be specific! Praying "God please make the world a better place" is a good sentiment, but you might get better results if you put in more specifics -- just like you would in a "Google Search."

I've had several people say to me in emails that they have, at moments, had doubt and wondered: Where was God when the mother in story (from Day 1) took the life of her own daughter?

Well, here is what I believe:

As for moments of doubt: we all have them! That is part of what makes us human.

Where is God during moments like the one in the story? ... Well, He was probably right there beside that young girl.

Unfortunately, God gives us freewill, and the Mother in the story used her freewill to take her daughter's life. Because God gave us freewill, sometimes innocent people are allowed to suffer. God won't force Himself upon us: we have to choose Him. God can only speak to and work through those who open their hearts up to Him. And that is what we are praying for in this Prayer Campaign.

Please pray with us today. Your voice does make a difference!

God Bless and Have a Truly Wonderful and Inspired Day!

Day 2 -- almost ...

A long-time friend of mine from high school sent me a reply to my request for prayer.

She expressed her support, but wanted to suggest that in addition to prayer, that we all try to educate ourselves about the Muslim culture and get to know Muslims in our own communities. I do think that is a truly wonderful idea. Here is my reply to her letter:


Dear xxxxxxxx,

I agree about trying to educate ourselves about different cultures. I commend you for doing that by reading and getting to personally know Muslims in your community. I think that is just wonderful. The only problem is that educating ourselves ALONE won't change the bottom line: a fundamental difference in the way we, as Christians and Westerners, approach religion and value human life.

I agree that most of the Muslims, and people of Islamic faith, that we will meet in the United States, and other Western countries, probably will not have the views and beliefs that I cited in this website, day 1. Many of those people are now in the West because they do not believe the beliefs that are in the mainstream of Islam in their former homelands. Further, the Muslims living in the West are, for the most part, not the ones who are being recruited into jihad by extremist factions, and they are not the ones who truly believe that they are doing God's will by cursing the infidels (all those living in Western, modern, capitalist driven countries) and supporting efforts to kill and harm the latter.

Our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan may serve to show another, better and more truthful, side of the West -- a side that helps to protect the innocent, a side that helps to establish basic human needs ( i.e., electricity, sewage systems, and running clean water) --to Muslims in countries formerly run by murdering dictators and religious extremists. Hopefully our presence in these countries will aid in educating Muslims and people of Islamic faith about our beliefs. But change will not be drastic, nor will it come quickly -- as we have seen during our last 2+ years in Iraq -- because we are dealing with a thousand ++ years of established beliefs and the Islamic extremists know this.

In light of the above, I feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to do more. And this Prayer Campaign has been hard for me to do, because I am usually one who likes to fly below the radar and work behind the scenes. When I see a need, however, the Holy Spirit just won't let me let it be. I have this 6th sense of empathy, and I truly feel the pain of all involved (ie., the innocent children and civilians that are killed by bombs on the streets of Iraq almost daily, our fellow countrymen who were needlessly and most cruelly murdered on 9/11, journalist and civilian contractors who are captured, tortured, and often killed by extremist factions in the Middle East). And I would like to see our U.S. military men and women come home! I think that we are at a point now, where real change in our relations with those of Islamic faith needs to aided by a higher power: God.

The Lord knows that none of us are perfect! That's why we are here on this Earth. We are all given a chance to do God's work -- spread His message of Hope and Salvation -- and maybe just get "IT" a little bit right. Sure, we are bound to mess up from time to time, but the God I know is a loving God, slow to anger, quick to give mercy and forgiveness to those in need. So if even if you have never prayed before, or don't think you know how, or wonder about the effectiveness of prayer in general: here's your chance to get in there and do something that really matters! To have a true impact on the world around you, and to see firsthand the power of prayer, and of the God who made us one and all. We are all children of God, regardless of our individual religious beliefs and affiliations, or lack therof.

I feel as if we are at an impasse, and it is time that we let God aid us all in a path to peace and understanding. I truly believe that this prayer campaign may help us to that end.

We aren't going to get up in anyones face, or condemn anyone for their beliefs. We are simply going to pray and leave the rest up to God.

If you have some words for prayer that you think that others might be able to use to help them in their efforts to support this prayer campaign please leave a comment or send and email to:
peaceifwepray@gmail.com .


God Bless Us One and All!
xxxxxxxxx

P.S. Please excuse any typos! It is late and I am tired 11:29 p.m. Maybe I will sleep tonight ...

PEACE IF We Pray ... Day 1

(Note: there have been some refinements and edits since my original emailing. Please use this version in your emails and calls to others for prayer. Thank you!)

peaceifwepray@gmail.com


I truly believe in the power in the prayer!


I had trouble sleeping last night. My husband relayed a true story to me that he had heard on talk radio.

The story was about an Islamic family. In this family, one of the brothers raped his biological sister. The brother spent a mere day in jail. The daughter was told that she must have done something to encourage the brother and that she had brought shame on her family.

When it was discovered that the sister who had been raped was pregnant -- as a result of the attack -- the girl's mother went to her and told her that she must end her life. That was the only way to save the family honor -- supposedly. The girl responded that she did not want to die; she wanted to live. So that evening the mother went into the girl's room, while she slept, and suffocated her.

This story really troubled me. One has to wonder if this is the norm in Islamic culture? Is this truly what they believe? Based on things I've read, and heard on news & radio: it would seem that this is the way a very large majority of people of Islamic faith believe -- as with any religion there are, of course, more moderate and also extreme beliefs. But what many of us "Westerners" fail to understand is that this belief system goes back thousands of years, and it is deeply embedded in their culture.

It baffles me how a religion with a belief in a higher power can have such disrespect for human life? How can they allow the laws of men supercede the laws of God?

The sixth commandment, as given to Moses by God, says very clearly that “Though Shall Not Kill.” The tenth commandment says: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Would you have your neighbor kill you? The 10 Commandments, are part of the Old Testament of the Bible, and preceded Jesus. Therefore, I would think that they are not unique to Christian religions alone. Don’t the 10 Commandments apply in Islam?

The 10 Commandments aside: How can any religion believe that a God who created LIFE would take the loss of it so very lightly? Surely God has the power to punish to sinners. He does not need us to do it for Him. Further, it says in the Bible, on numerous occasions: "judge not lest you should be judged."

If a mother can take the life of her daughter, a life that she participated in creating, carried in her womb for nine months, and then cared for and raised for 13++ years, because of the man-made laws of Islam: then is there little hope for us “infidels?” How can we even begin to understand, let alone reason with that kind of obedience and mindset?

We in the U.S., and other parts of the world that profess to be Christians, are not completely blameless when it to comes to disrespecting life either, so I don’t want to throw stones. While we in the “West”, for the most part, do seem to care deeply for our families and those around us who are less fortunate: we still do take the lives of defenseless, unborn children. But, I digress …Anyway, I lay there last night, tossing and turning, and feeling a bit hopeless and wondering what I, personally, could do to help make a difference. And as I lay there, I began to pray to God for some insight.

As I prayed, it occurred to me then that I had been praying for:

1) Our President to make the right, and the hard, decisions with respect to the War in Iraq and the larger War on Terror.
2) For our soldiers in the Middle East and for their families left behind.
3) For the soldiers and civilians who had been killed or injured in Iraq, and for their loved ones.

But I had not prayed for the people of Islamic faith. This was God’s answer to my question: What can I do?

HIS Answer: Earnestly, and diligently, PRAY for a raining down of the HOLY SPIRIT upon all people of Islamic faith. That the HOLY SPIRIT may awaken in them.

That the HOLY SPIRIT may give them newfound insights, and also the strength & courage to question thousands of years of their cultural heritage.

That the HOLY SPIRIT will help those of the Islamic faith to see that many of laws of Islam – particularly those that allow for killing and violence – are the laws of men and not of God.

That they may find a willingness to open their hearts to the possibility that their is good in those of us of Western decent, who are not of the Islamic faith.

That they may come to see that WE ALL are children of God, and that ALL human life is precious and a gift from God.

I will pray also that God provides for the basic physical needs of those in need of such as well (i.e., food, shelter, water, electricity, sanitation, and safety in their own homes and neighborhoods).

So I am going to launch a Prayer Campaign: to Pray For All People of Islamic Faith. I would like to call this Prayer Campaign: “PEACE IF We Pray.”

P – Pray
E – Earnestly
A – for All
C – Children (God’s)
E – of Eastern

I – Islamic
F – Faith

I think our lack of progress in Iraq and the innocent children and civilians that are killed by bombs on the streets of Iraq almost daily have demonstrated that we can't obtain peace and understanding by using logic and reason alone, but with God's grace, maybe we can make a significant impact.

It says in the Bible that "wherever two or more are gathered in my name: there also am I (God)." So let us join together in prayer, as two or more, and lift up our voices for peace and understanding. Amen.

I would be most grateful to anyone who would pray with me. I, myself, will be praying daily for 2 months, but anything that you can do WILL HELP to make a difference.

Please click on the envelope below to send this link, and call to prayer, to your friends and family. And if you would like please leave me a comment (by clicking on the word “comment” or "pencil" icon ) to let myself --and others-- know that you are praying with us. That would be wonderful!

Let’s do this and see if WE can make a difference in this climate of confusion, fear, and violence. Let’s do this to have a better world and to leave a better world for our children and our children’s children. God Bless!

Michelle

P.S. Please check back periodically for more information & updates and to submit your ideas and comments.

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