Just Keep On Praying

"As for the Eleven disciples, they went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Jesus, they bowed before Him, although some doubted." - Matthew 28:16-17

While Jesus lived with the apostles, they doubted Him. When He was crucified, they lost all their hope. When He resurrected, they still doubted. Even after spending 40 days with them after His resurrection, they still doubted! It doesn't even matter that they saw Him with their own eyes! Dumb apostles, right? If they're dumb, so are we! It's the same thing with us. How many times hasn't God come through for us, on the big things and the small, yet the next time a problem rolls around… bam… we're down on the floor worried that God won't be there for us! But you know what… it's ok! Jesus knew them, He knew what was in their hearts and He didn't reprimand them for it and that's because although they had questions in their head, they were still there praying. You see, that's all that really matters, that we keep on praying, even if a billion questions are stuck in our head. Just keep on praying.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, You have to put up with so much from me! I doubt and turn my back on You, but You're always there to take me back. Please, never let me stay fallen down for too long. In Your Name we pray, amen.

The Great Commission

"Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you." - Matthew 28:19

A couple of weeks ago, I was at a retreat and the instructor told us to preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words. Before the ascension, Jesus commanded His apostles to go out and proclaim all they had learned. 2000 years later, as Christians, we need to do the same. Don't think it's only the job of priests and preachers to proclaim the gospel, you need to do it, too. And it's not even about going around preaching the gospel to people on street corners, but do you, by your example, show others what your faith is on a day to day basis? If you don't, you need to examine yourself. You need to think of yourself as an athlete and each day score one more point for Christ…it's as little as saying "May God bless you" when someone sneezes. That one point you score could be someone that really needed the love of God, or someone that came to believe in God because of you, or I have even heard cases of people that didn't commit suicide because a stranger showed them kindness on that day. There are many ways you can preach the gospel, you only have to choose one.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You command us to preach Your word and bring the good news to others. I am here before You because I accept Your command and want to serve You. Please help me in this task to help those around me that need Your love and guidance. In Your Name we pray, amen.

The Blessed Virgin Mary

"When Jesus saw the Mother, and the disciple, he said to the Mother, 'Woman, this is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'There is your mother.' And from that moment the disciple took her to his home." - John 19:25

The last words of a person are very important. Upon facing death, Jesus only spoke 7 times, and one of them was to hand over His mother to His disciple John. This passage is significant because in it, Jesus tells us that His mother is our mother, and we are her children. It was the Virgin Mary who accepted the will of God and brought the Messiah into the world for us, and it was also she who provoked the first miracle out of the Lord even though He thought He wasn't ready. Out of obedience to His mother, He conceded and performed His very first miracle at the wedding at Cana. Who else does God Himself have to obey except for His own mother? We too have the privilege of asking the mother to intercede on our behalf to the son so that our petitions are heard even faster since Jesus gave her to us as our mother, and us to her as her children. This is why from then on, the disciple took her into his home as we should bring her into our hearts as the Lord's mother.

My prayer for tonight is a prayer I found on a piece of paper at church one morning. I saw it and picked it up to pray it. You ask the Virgin Mary to intercede to her son on your behalf for something you need/ want and in 3 days, you will see a change. I took the prayer with a special intention and I can thank the Lord for having listened to His mother because my prayer was answered in those 3 days! The paper said that if your prayer is answered, to publish it and that's what I'm doing by passing it on to you.

Please pray this for 3 days and pass it on:

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity. (Make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Oh Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands (3x). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine.