This morning, the Louisiana governor, Kathleen Blanco, called for a Day of Prayer in the state of Louisiana. To quote governor Blanco,

Whether you are in Louisiana or not, I would like to see you join in this day of prayer for every single person who was affected by Hurricane Katrina and continues to be affected by the hurricane itself and its massive after effects.

Dei gratia,

Dee

Dei gratia,

Dee

You know, I first heard about the Prayer of Jabez a little more than a year ago. I didn't remember reading it in the bible at the time, and, the first thing I heard was not very good.

Someone told me that they used to pray the prayer of Jabez, until they realized how bad it was. The piqued my curiosity, but, not enough to actively search out the prayer itself and find commentaries on why it was "so bad".

Then, earlier this year, I ran across a book "Beyond Jabez" by Bruce Wilkinson. I remembered the conversation, and decided to pick up the book to see if I could figure out why it merited the warning I had gotten previously about it - and to simply figure out WHAT it was!

Of course, shortly after I bought the book, things got busy, and it sat on my bookshelf - as many books do - until I was led to actually sit down and spend time reading.

Saint Peregrine is the patron saint for those suffer from cancer. With my mom's current battle with breast cancer, a dear sister in Christ sent this to me, and I was compelled to post it for all of you who may be suffering from cancer, or enduring a loved one's cancer. May the God of peace & hope surround you and yours.

O God, in Saint Peregrine you gave us an outstanding example of faith and patience. We humbly ask you that, by imitating him and by the help of his prayers, we may believe more fully in your healing help, bear the suffering of this life without wavering, and come with joy to the peace of heaven. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Dei gratia,

Dee

O eternal God, who from all eternity dost behold and love thy own glories and perfections infinite, and hast created me to do the work of God after the manner of men, and to serve thee in this generation and according to my capacities, give me thy grace, that I may be a curious and prudent spender of my time, so as I may best prevent or resist all temptation, and be profitable to the Christian commonwealth, and, by discharging all my duty, may glorify thy name.

Take from me all slothfulness, and give me a diligent and an active spirit, and wisdom to choose my employment; that I may do works proportionable to my person and to the dignity of a Christian, and may fill up all the spaces of my time with actions of religion and charity; that, when the devil assaults me, he may not find me idle; and my dearest Lord, at his sudden coming, may find me busy in lawful, necessary, and pious actions, improving my talent entrusted to me by thee, my Lord; that I may enter into the joy of my Lord, to partake of his eternal felicities, even for thy mercy’s sake, and for my dearest Saviour’s sake.

Amen.

This prayer is brought to you by FaithMinders, providing you traditional prayer tools for all denominations, and is excerpted from "Holy Living" by Jeremy Taylor - a work in the public domain.

Tonight, I offer to you a very special prayer, an old prayer, that I lift up to God, with the friends & families of Jesstin Pagan, Daniel Agosto and Anibal Cruz in my heart and on my mind. Those three young boys, missing since Wednesday, were found dead this evening in the trunk of a car, by one of the boy's father....after an extensive search to find them.

This prayer was written by Clement of Rome during the 1st century.

We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;
raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;
restore the wanderers of thy people;
feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;
raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.

I ask that you join me in prayer for these families and their friends, as well as the family and friends who have loved ones who are still missing.

Dei gratia,

Dee

The Great Separation announced yesterday the creation of the Christian Bloggers' Prayer Network (CBPN).

What is it? It's an email list for Christian Bloggers designed to unite us, as Christians, in prayer, as we are united in Christ.

Here's more from the Great Separation:

The goal of CBPN is to humbly lift before God our fellow webloggers in need of prayer and in so doing our hope is to become more like Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior and glorify God.

If you would like to join the prayer group visit CBPN -- Christian Bloggers' Prayer Network.

You can also send an eMail to CBPN-request [at] heritagealive.com with the subject subscribe.

After you subscribe you will get an eMail to confirm your subscription.

See ya there!

Dei Gratia,

Dee

I have a challenge for you. As Christians, with the priveledge of calling on God, building a relationship with Him, and really getting to know Him, we have this tendency to take our relationship with Him for granted at times.

Quite naturally, when things aren't going well - when we are caught in a valley - we will cry out to Him. We ask Him for His guidance, for His help, for His strength. And, God answers our call.

Yet, when we are on the mountaintops - everything seems to be going well, we are blessed beyond measure, and "all is right" in our world, we sometimes neglect our prayer time. We may say "I don't have anything to pray about right now" - or "what I have on my mind is too small to take to God."

But, we couldn't be further from the truth.

Friends,

It's been put on my heart that I should start making prayer shawls. Now, since I don't remember how to knit (I really think I learned a long time ago - but, the key there is "long time ago" - and I can't remember how to do it!), I will be crocheting these (and, yes, I *do* know how to crochet!). And, since they take quite a bit of time, I will not be selling these for profit (I hope my business coach isn't reading this - she will wring my neck for that! hehehehehe). Although, I will be charging a nominal fee to reimburse for materials and possibly a little bit of time.

First, I want to share the origins of prayer shawls with you. For those of you who are Messianic Christians, you will probably know this, but, for everyone else (and, I didn't know this either - I simply heard the "term" today, pictured it in my head, realized I have seen them given as gifts before, and set about doing research - only to find that this is something that's not only very meaningful, but, also great way to encourage Christian prayer, and lift others up in times of need.)

A prayer shawl is a shawl (that wraps around your shoulders OR sort of like a lap quilt) that is woven, knit, or crocheted (there may be other methods of making this too) that is prayed over as it is created. (And, you all know that I already do this with every product I create for my business, so you know this is definitely something that I am totally excited about!)

Prayer shawls are also called "tallits" in the Jewish tradition. Now, in the Jewish tradition, there are very specific customs and rules for use. I am not sure I really understand all of it - but, it appears that it is used during prayer, and specific ceremonies. There is a prescribed number of knots in these prayer shawls - each specifying a commandment of God - and, there is a specific way to tie the prayer shawl (and specific types/colors of thread that should be used). I've researched all of this in the past few hours - and it's very specific.

From what I gather, prayer shawls made by or for Christians (as opposed to the Jewish prayer shawls or Tallits) are not as defined in creation, purpose, or use - so, we may look on these as prayer tools. As I mentioned previously, they are prayed over when they are created - prayed over before beginning, prayed over and blessed as each stitch is made, and then once again after it's finished.

They are used in many situations - and, I know that I've seen them given for everything from baptism through marriage to death (in that instance, given to the family as a bereavement gift). I've also read in my research that they can be given to people who are chronically or terminally ill, during treatments, during recovery, and almost any other instance that you can imagine.

My younger daughter, Fiona, has discovered a "new thing" this past week - she discovered "bungle bees". You know, those black and yellow fat flying things that zip from flower to flower, collecting pollen? (You may know them as bumble bees.)

Yesterday, on our walk, I got thinking about those crazy bungle bees - and how sometimes, our prayer life can take on the flavor of a bungle bee.

Have you ever noticed how busy bees are? I've honestly never seen one sleeping. They are constantly flying out of the hive, to this flower and that, collecting a little more pollen, and just a little more - and then going back to the hive to collect the pollen.

Granted, they don't always take the most direct root. A "bungle bee" may skip half a dozen flowers when it is finished with one - only to go back to those later on.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

~ John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

This speaks so loudly, I can't begin to comment on it. I have spent hours praying for unity - not just for unity among Christians, but, unity for all. I know that you may believe that's a ridiculous prayer - unrealistic. Yet, that has been a prayer that I've prayed more times than I can count.

Ever since I was first introduced to this prayer, it has held a deep spot within my heart. It touched me so deeply, that it is one of a very few prayers that I can recite, now, by heart, through the depths of my soul. I pray that you will find this to be a very touching prayer as well, and one that you can wholeheartedly identify with. Grace be with you, Dee

A Covenant Prayer

~John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but, Thine.
Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by Thee or laid aside for Thee,
Exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to Thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine and I am Thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.