Prayer for the Day - March 2015

[MajestyJo]

MARCH

It is not only amidst our joys and hopes
but also in our grief and anguish, Lord,
that you are with us.
Sustain us today in your love.

As the month of March begins, we can
pause for a moment in silence to think
of some of the signs that remind us that
winter is past, and spring is upon us -
signs such as daffodils and other bulbs
that have flowered…
(pause)

Let us pray:
Lord of life,
we give you thanks
for the beauty of creation,
and we rejoice
when we see signs of new life.
May we be Spring to others
and never Winter.
Amen.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-flowers/0424.gif

[MajestyJo]

The story of Jonah and the whale is found in the Old Testament. It is probably best read as a parable - a story with a message.

“I could die with anger,” said Jonah. But God
said: “You are angry - not at the loss of a
single person - but at the loss of a plant
that you only cared for because it was doing
something for you. Learn the lesson
that I care for and treasure all people -
without exception. Learn the lesson that,
unlike you, I’m not prejudiced against people
who are different from you. Learn the
lesson that I’m more kind and merciful
than you will ever be. Learn from your experience.”

My prayer is that we may we learn from our experiences in today. http://www.angelwinks.ca/images/tinypinkheart.gifmj

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-aquatic/0225.gif

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord, you have watched me grow
in my mother’s womb,
and I know that you love
all that you have made.
Help me to transform
my difficulties and disabilities
into opportunities for growth.
Shine the light of your Spirit on me
that I may grow
as the person you are calling me to be.
Inspire me
to develop the talents
you have given me
for the benefit and the service
of those people
you have placed in my life.
May each of us
become a blessing for others.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTptLYrv6RcQ_NWZ564MeFvz0aFtLHOQ vEyOBHK_fg7rMz9tRNO

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Father,
into your hands I place my successes.
Into your hands
I also place my failures,
and I pray that, through your Spirit,
I may face the challenges of life
with courage and determination.
Help me to think anew
and see things more broadly
than in terms of “success”
and “failure”.
Lead me always to trust
and place myself confidently
in your hands.
Amen.

http://angelwinks.ca/images/nostalgicpod/nostalgicpod26.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Let’s pray:

in the words of St Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace:
where there is hatred,
let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning
that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTukwgXu4MqOwOnVOKWOiz52L4kdmTC YnW9d0HVDz35TNl3KCziA

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray that people be inspired to
appreciate all that is good and beneficial
around them. Let us pray that good
decisions be reached concerning the environment
- decisions that look to our
heritage as well as to our needs.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who are concerned
about their health and their future. We
pray for people in physical pain, for those
who make little progress, and for those
who will never get better.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer

Let us pray for all who are sad, and for
all who have had bitter experiences in
their lives. Let us pray that we may be
protected from all that may harm us.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSYMgEPisfnUgbxDzukzsMfA1WGgXeoM k8EtBoTzTNgic8ov5B48w

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Speak to him, all people of the earth,
because his love is great
and he is always faithful.
(Psalm 117)

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-angels/0037.gif

[MajestyJo]

Prayer for March 8th

Let’s remind ourselves in silence that God is with us and we are in his presence…

(pause…)

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/1-John_5-7.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Let’s pause and think for a moment how
small we are in the Universe, yet we can
read in the Bible that God has written
the name of each of us on the palm of
his hand…
(pause…)

Let us pray:

Lord God,
Creator of light,
at the rising of your sun each morning
let the greatest of all lights - your love
- rise, like the sun, within my heart.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLiApmO_7pLIRWbpZFrbjwWSyLBJzCg POJ9KAZ4IAt4QqGRzSO

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray
that each of us develops
the skills and talents
we have been given,
and that we remain open and sensitive
to all that is around us.
Lord, hear us - Lord, graciously hear us.

Let us pray that we may live in such a way
that we use things and love people,
instead of using people
and loving things.
Lord, hear us - Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray that we may value and treasure
all who come into our lives
- not just for what they can do,
but for who they are.
Let us pray that we live in such a way
as to express appreciation
by the way we look at people
and in what we say.
Lord, hear us - Lord, graciously hear us.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-religion/0040.gif

[MajestyJo]

Let’s reflect and pray:

I shall pass through this world but once.
Therefore, any good that I can do,
any kind act that I can perform
for any fellow-creature,
let me do it now.
Let me not delay or omit it,
for I shall not pass this way again.

(attributed to Stephen Grellet)

Eagle,-- A Sacred Messenger from Heaven and, the, Eye of the Sun. The eagle lives in the spirit realm and it carries prayers to the Creator and returns with a vision. The eagle possesses healing spiritual power and their magical feathers assist medicine men and women in connecting with Spirit for healing. Eagles will mate on the wind and they symbolize the power of creation when released from the confines of the Earthly realm,with a lesson of staying grounded when soaring high.,The eagle teaches that with limited vision we may not see the things that lie before us and how to look at life from a higher perspective.

From Spirit Walk Ministry

http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/eagle.htm

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-birds/0166.gif

[MajestyJo]

In Amsterdam, the capital of Germanoccupied
Holland in the Second World
War, Anne Frank and her family and four
other Jews hid from the Nazis in concealed
rooms in what had been her father’s
offices. For more than two years
they were secure there, unknown to
those who worked in the building, except
for a friend who arranged to get food
to them. They were betrayed in 1944,
and all eight were sent to the death
camps. Only Anne’s father - Otto Frank -
survived and returned.

Anne died of typhus in the concentration
camp of Bergen-Belsen on this day,
12th March, 1945, aged 15. Only weeks
later the camp was liberated.
3 Anne Frank’s story is now known to millions
across the world because of the diary
that she kept about her innermost
thoughts during those years in hiding.
Her father discovered the diary on his
return to their hiding-place, once the war
ended. ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ has sold
25 million copies, and has been printed
in over 50 languages.
T
his is an excerpt from Anne’s diary,
dated Saturday 15th July 1944:

“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped
all my ideals because they seem so absurd
and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep
them, because in spite of everything I still
believe that people are really good at heart.
I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation
consisting of confusion, misery, and
death. I see the world gradually being
turned into a wilderness. I hear the everapproaching
thunder, which will destroy
us, too. I can feel the suffering of millions
and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think
that it will all come right, that this cruelty,
too, will end, and that peace and tranquility
will return again. In the meantime, I must
“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped
all my ideals because they seem so absurd
and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep
them, because in spite of everything I still
believe that people are really good at heart.
I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation
consisting of confusion, misery, and
death. I see the world gradually being
turned into a wilderness. I hear the ever approaching
thunder, which will destroy
us, too. I can feel the suffering of millions
and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think
that it will all come right, that this cruelty,
too, will end, and that peace and tranquility
will return again. In the meantime, I must
uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will
come when I shall be able to carry them
out.”

Let us pause for a moment in silent
prayer, thinking of all who suffer prejudice
and persecution because of their
race, colour, religion or political views…

(pause…)

God our Father,
you call each of us by name
and you know
the innermost thoughts
that we keep to ourselves.
Stay with us, day by day,
in good times and in bad.
Empower us with your Spirit
that we may grow in character
and develop a true sense of values
and ideals
through following Jesus,
your Son and our Brother.
Amen.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/religion-messages/0052.gif

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord,
inspire us to act justly, love tenderly,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Breathe upon us your Spirit of peace
that we may be
bearers of reconciliation
wherever you place us.
May there be peace in our hearts,
in our homes, in our land,
and between all people.
Amen.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/Ezekiel_36-26.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Born on this day in 1879 was Albert Einstein,
who became one of the most brilliant
scientists. He found that his studies
of science led him closer to God, and he
wrote:

“The most beautiful thing
that we can experience
is the MYSTERIOUS.
It is the only source of true art and science.
And those to whom this emotion is a stranger
- those who can no longer
pause in WONDER
or stand wrapt in AWE -
they are already dead:
their eyes are shut.”


Let us pray:
Father, preserve in us
a sense of wonder
at the marvels of life.
May all that we see around us
lead us to you. Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUy8FHShWpdwmlZ-w-H9Y-97F-dTQCF6tYRZdzW1-_DRMTwZQG

[MajestyJo]

I can think of times
when others have let me down.

I remember when I have let others down.

I can think of times
when people expected too much of me.

I remember
when I haven’t expected enough
of myself.

I can think of times
when I haven’t felt appreciated.

I remember when I haven’t praised others
for the good use of their talents.

And so we pray:

May we learn
to value and appreciate one another,
bringing out the best
in those around us.
May what is not good
die within us,
and may we bring life to all we meet.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSCZayaU7H8jfvNFgUHOAvZEyooUuT4 6fQZ7FatFqnFJlVQYJq-g

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray for the needy and hungry of
our world:

God our Father,
we think of the beauty of the world
which you proclaimed to be good,
but we are also conscious
of our misuse
of what you have given to us.
Our governments
spend money in our name
maintaining “butter mountains”
and “wine lakes”,
and we subsidise farmers
to “set aside” land
so that less food is produced
- even though
our brothers and sisters
die each day from hunger.
On our paper money
we print the images
of famous people,
yet often do not treasure and uphold
the dignity of all who are made
in your image and likeness.

Open our hearts
to be influenced for good,
and inspire us
to touch the hearts of others.
Enable us to change the things
that contradict your love,
and may all your people
work and grow together
as brothers and sisters.
Amen.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/Psalms_51-10.jpg

[MajestyJo]

There is a saying that:

“I might be the only gospel that others will read today.”

Let us pray:

Inspire us, Lord,
to take the gospel more seriously,
that we may be credible witnesses
of your love. Amen.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/Nehemiah_8-10.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
lead us to grow in your image
and become more fully human.
Lead us to respect and value
all other people
that we may work together
for justice for all
and the building of your kingdom.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxZ6g8UTmGKaAS3KsDg5TxSkcJpGJBs toGGp1Yjm0Ef2rDjL_1

[MajestyJo]

Let’s pray
for those with the disease of leprosy.

Let’s pray, too,
for all who are cut off from others,
for all who are isolated in life,
and for those whose commitment
costs them greatly.

Let’s pray for AIDS victims,
and for all who experience prejudice.

Father,
help us to see and love in others
what you see and love in them.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ4bCepT09CFA4ajDjVJggwu2Xl_tYY4 Mx-MX2yAtuFSuImbGAj

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord, I pray for gifts and talents
that will help me and other people.
As I pray for these gifts
I know, too,
that I will need to work hard
at developing them
- to become more patient,
- to grow in wisdom,
- and to be faithful in friendship.
May I be as faithful to others
as you are to me.
Amen.

http://angelwinks.ca/images/nostalgicpod/nostalgicpod42.jpg

[MajestyJo]

From 1948 until 1990, “apartheid” was
the system in South Africa. The word
“apartheid” means “separateness”, and
the laws enforced a very firm separation
of people according to race and colour.
On this day in 1960 about 15,000 black
people formed a peaceful demonstration
against the “pass laws” which forced
blacks to carry identification and travel
permits with them all the time. The police
opened fire in the black township of
Sharpeville. 56 black people were killed,
and a further 162 were wounded. It is
known as the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’

We remind ourselves of the evils of all
systems that declare some people to be
inferior because they are “different” in
some way. We think of apartheid in South
Africa, Nazi rule throughout Europe, Pol
Pot in Cambodia, and Stalin in the Soviet
Union.


Let us pray:

Father,
you have made all people
in your own likeness,
and you love all that you have made.
Your Son was born
as a member of a Jewish family,
and was recognised
by wise men from the east.
He rejoiced in the faith
of a Roman soldier
and a Syrian woman,
and he praised Samaritans
for their attitude and good works.
He welcomed the Greeks
who searched for him,
and he was helped to carry his cross
by an African.

: Gen 127,Wis 223,Wis 1124;
Lk 2,Mt 21-12
Lk 710,Mk 726,Lk 1719,Lk 1036
Jn 1220, Lk 2326


Father, may our human family
not become separated from you
by building barriers
of race and colour,
of class and belief.
Inspire us to recognise
that we are all made
in your image and likeness,
so that we may grow
in appreciation of all people,
and encourage each other
to grow in pride
in who we are
and who we are called to be.
May we recognise your Son in our midst,
and live truly as brothers and sisters.
Amen.

Jn 1152
Gen 127,Wis 223,Lk 148,Jn

Acts 101-35 - God has no favourites: anyone of
any nationality is acceptable to him.

Amazing grace; Christ is our king; Come
let us go up to the Lord


http://angelwinks.ca/images/nostalgicpod/nostalgicpod43.jpg

[MajestyJo]

The Nazis came to power in Germany in
January 1933. From then on, concentration
camps were established, and people
were put there without trial - Jews,
gypsies, disabled people, homosexuals,
some prisoners of war, political and religious
opponents.

On this day - 22nd March - 1933, the
Nazis opened a concentration camp
called Dachau, near Munich in Germany.
By the end of the Second World War,
millions had been killed in all the Nazi
camps.

Despite all the suffering (suffering that
we can’t even begin to imagine) a prayer
was discovered on a piece of wrapping
paper beside the body of a dead child in
another concentration camp - built at a
place called Ravensbruck, where 92,000
women and children were murdered. We
don’t know who wrote this prayer, but
we make it our own today:

O Lord, remember not only
the men and women of good will,
but also those of ill will.
But do not remember
all the suffering
they have inflicted on us.
Remember instead
the good things that have come to us
thanks to this suffering -
our comradeship, our loyalty,
our humility, our courage,
our generosity,
and the greatness of heart
which have all grown out of this.
And when they come to judgement,
let all the good things
that have come out of this
be their forgiveness.
Amen.

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTG21Gy_PSB8UzOCMbX59fccyBTeFMEt 89ooBM47Mkn4rzqkz9e

[MajestyJo]

h I. She was desperate for more time
to live, and her last words were:
“All my possessions for a moment of time.”

Let us pray that we use our time well:

Lord,
it is in this place and in this time
that you want me to grow.
You give me the time I need
to live as you want me to live.
Help me to use
my time and opportunities wisely.
Help me to value and treasure
all the people you put into my life,
and lead me to live in thankfulness.
Amen.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/Acts_2-21.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

Lord, we bring before you
all who are imprisoned unjustly
and all who are tortured.
We think of those people who live in fear
of injustice and repression.
We pray that the minds of those
who abuse others
may be turned
to what is good and honourable.
May those of us who live in freedom
not take our heritage for granted,
but be of good influence
in leading others
to value one another
as brothers and sisters.
Amen.

http://angelwinks.ca/images/generalpod/generalpod1112.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Prayer N/A

Give Love as a gift to all...walk softly in beauty and balance..and you shall know the feelings of Harmony and Peace.

www.mamarocks.com/earth_teach_me.htm

http://www.mamarocks.com/mearth.JPG

[MajestyJo]

Regular prayer N/A

Let us pray:

I arise today
through God's strength to direct me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak to me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me from snares of devils,
and from temptation of vices,
from everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and a near,
alone and in a multitude. Amen

St. Patrick

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm on your face,
the rain fall softly on your fields;
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
GOD BLESS

http://angelwinks.ca/images/naturepod/naturepod667.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

We know, Lord,
that there are many radio waves
travelling through this room
at the moment,
but we need a radio
to be able to tune in
to the different frequencies.
Isn’t it a bit like that with prayer, Lord,
“tuning in” to your presence with us?
4 We remember that you said
that you would be with us,
so we do know in our minds
that you are present.
But there’s a difference
between knowing that you’re present
and growing in the faith
that you are beside us.
We ask for the power of your Spirit
in our lives each day,
so that we may live more fully
in your presence.
Only then will our attitude
and words and actions
better reflect yours.
Amen.

http://angelwinks.ca/images/naturepod/naturepod668.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Today marks the birthday in the year
1515 of St Teresa of Avila, in Spain. She
wrote:

Christ has no body on earth now but ours:
no hands but ours, no feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes
through which Christ’s compassion
is to look upon the world.
Ours are the feet
with which he is to go about doing good.
Ours are the hands
with which he is to bless others now.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands
- to do your work.
I give you my feet
- to go your way.
I give you my eyes
- to see as you do.
I give you my tongue
- to speak your words.
I give you my mind
- that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit
- that you may pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart
that you may love, in me,
your Father and all mankind.
I give you my whole self
that you may grow in me,
so that it is you, Lord Jesus,
who live and work and pray in me.
Amen.

Grail Prayer

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-biblical-characters/0026.gif

[MajestyJo]

Let us pray:

God our Father,
your love for our world
and for each of us individually
is so great
that you sent Jesus, your Son,
to live fully as one of us.
May he lead us to live in peace
and work well with each other
to build your kingdom
in our world which you love so much.
May your Spirit unite us
and lead us to appreciate and value
all who are different from ourselves.
Amen.

http://www.angelwinks.ca/images/religious1.jpg

[MajestyJo]

Sunday is the holy day and rest day of
Christians. Friday is the day for Moslems.
Saturday is the holy day and rest day for
Jews. The Jewish Sabbath (the word means
‘rest’) starts the evening before, because
days are counted from sunset to sunset.

Each Friday evening, then, there is a
prayer service in the synagogue, the Jewish
place of worship. Afterwards members
of the family gather together at
home. It is always the mother who starts
the sabbath prayers by saying a blessing
over the two candles that are used. Her
husband and children gather round her
and she prays:

“Blessed are you, Lord our God,
King of the Universe.
You have made us holy
by your commandments,
and you have instructed us
to kindle the Sabbath light.”

A passage is read from the Scriptures.
Then the family sit down for their Sabbath
meal. The father recites a blessing
(called the ‘Kiddush’), and he blesses a
cup of wine:

“Blessed are you, Lord our God.
You create the fruit of the vine.”
He blesses the bread:
“Blessed are you, Lord our God.
You bring forth bread from the earth.”

As we are about to use the same words
of blessing that Jewish families use every
Friday evening, let us pray for a blessing
on all whom we love and care for:

Let us pray:

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord shine his face upon you.
May he show you his loving kindness
and bring you peace. Amen.

These “Blessed-are-you” prayers are the basis
for the Offertory prayers in the Roman Catholic
Mass.
✍ As the Jewish sabbath starts the evening before,
so the Roman Catholic Church celebrates
Sunday Mass on Saturday evenings as well as
on the Sunday itself.
V Father, I place; May the blessing of God


This is an excerpt from the page of this date in
‘Praying Each Day of the Year’,
a 3-volume book
by Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC.

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/Ephesians_1-3.jpg

[MajestyJo]

On the 31st March in 1855, the author
Charlotte Brontë died, aged 39. She had
lived in Yorkshire. In one of her books,
‘Jane Eyre’, she wrote:

“We know that God is everywhere,
but certainly we feel his presence most
when his works are on the grandest scale
spread before us,
and it is in the unclouded night-sky,
where his worlds wheel their silent course,
that we read clearest his infinitude,
his omnipotence, his omnipresence.”

We can think, as well, of one of the great
saints, Ignatius Loyola, who could not
look at the stars in the night sky without
being moved to tears by God’s beauty.

Let us pray:

God our Father, open our eyes
to the beauty of your creation.
Inspire us to appreciate
all the wonders of life.
May all that we see lead us to you.
Amen.

http://angelwinks.ca/images/generalpod/generalpod1119.jpg