Bread of Life

Prayer...

Prayer is, in the strictest sense, a humble religious petition of man to God to seek divine benevolence and benefits he needs for life, both temporal and eternal. It is a conversation with God, either by accepted prayer forms, or from the heart. Consider these words as if God were speaking them to His children...

"It is not necessary my child, to know much in order to please me much; it is enough that you love me fervently. Speak here to me then, as you would speak to your most intimate friend, to your mother, to your brother."

~God your Father~

He Gave His Only Son

"Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

John 21:29

Quotes to Live By

There should be less talk. A preaching point is not a meeting point.

The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved-- they are Jesus in disguise.

In the West there is loneliness, which I call the leprosy of the West. In many ways it is worse than our poor in Calcutta. (Commonweal, Dec 19, 1997)

It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.

The poor give us much more than we give them. They're such strong people, living day to day with no food. and they never curse, never complain. We don't have to give them pity or sympathy. We have so much to learn from them.

I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?

I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness.

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

~Mother Teresa~

+Subscribe to The Weekly Word

Spreading the Word spiritually, creatively, inspirationally, and historically on a weekly basis, by St. Joe's own parishoners

Prayer is All Powerful

by Patti LaRue

Maybe you get tired of hearing it, Father John always telling us how important it is to prayer, even if it is just a few minutes a day. He is only saying it because it is true. It is more true than some might imagine.

He is only saying it...

...because it is true.

There have been many times in the recent past that I couldn't have made it through to the next day had it not been for praying or others praying for me. For example, four long years ago, our grandson was ripped from our lives and shipped off by the State to live with an aunt who he didn't even know. This was after we had been told we could foster him. It was like my heart was in so much pain that I thought I would die. The moment I heard the news, I fell to my knees and began to pray to God for guidance. I immediately fell asleep afterwards, one of the deepest sleeps I have ever experienced. When I awoke it felt as if I had fallen asleep in the arms of the one who loves us all with unquenchable passion. I was completely at peace and knew from that moment on I could handle this.

I was completely at peace...

...and knew from that moment on I could handle this.

After four years of prayer, our grandson was returned to us and now lives in our home.

A few months prior to our grandson returning, I became deathly ill, I had a virus attack my heart causing me to go into congestive heart failure and Atrial fibrillation. Once in the hospital for some unexplained reason both my kidneys and liver began to fail. The doctors said they didn't know what they could do except put me on dialysis. The night before they were to do this a dear friend of mine came by and asked if she could lay hands on me and pray. The next day, the kidneys and liver were both beginning to show signs of reversal. The doctors had no explanation for it, except that it had to be the power of prayer.

God had a plan and I let him guide me, through prayer, to find out what that plan was for my life and I needed to be alive for this plan. And it was a few months later that our grandson came to live with us.

Prayer is all powerful.

Father John highly recommends we read Sirach 2:1-11 for whenever times get so dark that we feel lost in it all. It has done wonders for me in time of need. I will leave you with that scripture.

My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity.
Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will our future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken?
Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble.

URLVD

If you would like to comment on any article written or would like to contact one of our writers, please feel free to do so my filling out the simple form below. If you would also like to submit some sort of spiritual writing of your own, please feel free to let us know, we'd love to place your writing right here along with our regular writers. Thank you!

Submission Form

hit counter