Tag Archives: prayer

Faith, Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

Spiritual Warfare

November 1, 2022 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

I ask myself…

Are there evil spirits?

Yes, I know there are…

Stirring doubt and confusion within me.

My moral compass seems

to have been stolen…

Replaced by Tolerance!

Tolerance of vice

Tolerance of evil!

Evil Spirits tell me

Turn a blind eye to what you see

Pretend you see nothing

DO NOTHING!!!

Evil seems to surround me.

I feel I am at war…

What can I do?

I seem powerless

But I am not

My moral compass seems to awaken

I CAN do something

But first I must Pray!

It is good to be kind

but I cannot tolerate evil.

I pray and I pray some more

I pray for virtue

I pray for justice

I pray for peacemakers

I pray for the armor of God (which is FAITH)

Tell me what to do Lord.

I seem to be at war..but with who?

Lord, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Only through prayer will I know what to do.

The confusion is replaced with serenity and peace and wisdom.

All things are possible with God. Our God is a Mighty God.

The storm within me is calmed. The peacemaker has answered me.

Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

Seeking Serenity

October 23, 2022 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Seeking Serenity

At peace with God.

Freedom from Anxiety.

Ability to make decisions.

Knowing I am doing the will of God.

Feeling the presence of God.

Trusting the Future to God.

Letting Go…Letting God.

Seeking God with humility.

Giving the past to God.

Accepting forgiveness.

Forgiving others.

Accepting imperfection.

Agreeing to disagree.

Asking for directions when confused.

God’s Will…not my will.

Being able to say “No”.

Knowing when to speak and when to be silent.

Hearing God in the Silence.

Faith, Poetry, Prayer, Spirituality

By the Power of Your Grace

Grace is the presence of God’s presence!

Guide me Lord,

May Thy will be done.

I feel confused and lost.

I need FAITH.

Lift my anxiety Lord…

Grant me FAITH.

By the Power of Your Grace.

The world is chaotic, Lord.

Help me to see Your face.

Especially in dark and trying times, Lord

I want to trust in You.

Grant me Hope…

By the Power of Your Grace.

Perhaps I am anxious

because I need to ask

for Your forgiveness.

You are Love.

You are Mercy.

Grant me your Love and Mercy Lord…

By the Power of Your Grace.

FAITH, HOPE and LOVE

All three do I need.

I hear You say..

“Be not afraid!”

Heal my heart, Lord

that I may do Thy will always.

Grant that I may

grow old gracefully…

By the Power of Your Grace.

Author's Pick, Book Review, Faith, Prayer, Spirituality

Author’s Pick…Book Review #1…Prayer Styles

August 1, 2022 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Their is a different prayer style for each person. Each of the saints also prays in a way that is special to that saint If you are searching for the type of prayer that works for you a wonderful book to read is Six Ways to Pray from Six Great Saints by Gloria Hutchinson.

This book introduces you to six different saints: St. Francis of Assisi (Franciscan), St. Clare ( Poor Clares), St. Teresa of Lisieux (Carmelite), St. Therese of Avila (Carmelite), St. John of the Cross (Carmelite ) and St. Ignatius of Loyola (Jesuit). You will learn not only their story but also their prayer style.

Each chapter contains exercises to help you discover what type of prayer works best for you. When I read this book, I learned about the “Prayer of Detachment” taught by St. John of the Cross. The exercises helped me to practice and meditate in a way I had never tried before. I encourage everyone to read it and discover their own prayer type.

https://www.catholiccompany.com/six-ways-pray-six-great-saints-i104691/

Faith, Featured, Spirituality

Prayers for Peace and Healing

February 23, 2022 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

Prayer for Peace and Healing

May I be at Peace

May my heart remain open.

May I be aware of my true nature.

May I be healed.

May I be a source of healing for others.

May I dwell in the

Breath of God.

St. Teresa of Avila

O Blessed Jesus,

give stillness of soul in You.

Let Your mighty calmness reign in me.

Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace.

St. Teresa of Avila

And I saw a river over which every soul must pass to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, and the name of that river was suffering.and then I saw a boat which carried souls across the river, and the name of that boat was Love.

St. John of the Cross

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you.;

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, prais and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

St. Therese de Lisieux

Prayer of St. Francis

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;
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.

St. Francis

Prayer for Peace of Mind

Fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry.

Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

I pray for Your healing touch upon my body, mind and spirit.
I beg You to remove any fear or anxiety.
Fill me with the Peace that You alone can give.
I place myself completely in Your hands.

O my Lord Jesus, trusting in Your care and love for me, may my recovery be swift, my strength be renewed, and my health restored.

I lift up all my afflictions in Your hands, Lord, for You are the Divine Healer with Divine Mercy.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in You.
Amen.

Faith, Spirituality

Reflecting on the Epiphany

Quote January 4, 2020 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Epiphany. The celebration takes place on January 6th. It is time to reflect on the journey of the Three Wise Men, bearing gifts for the Christ-child…Jesus.

Are we searching for Jesus? We will have difficulty finding God if we look for him as a scientist would…through a microscope or a telescope. We can find him in creation, but I have found that letting God know I am open to the truth and asking Him to reveal the truth to me has helped me on my journey towards God. God is Truth. God is Love. God is mercy. Let Him lead you.

What gifts do we give to Our Lord? The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts symbolize the importance of the gifts of time, talent and treasure. Do we spend time in prayer? Do we offer God the gift of our life? If our talents are given to us by God, do we use our talent to serve Him?

The three gifts also symbolize the royal priesthood of Jesus. Gold symbolizes a kingdom. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. Frankincense is considered a symbol of prayer. (Let my prayer rise like incense!)

Life is a journey…a pilgrimage. The wise men followed a star. They knew it would lead them to God. How are we letting God lead us? Do we have the wisdom to know that we need help? Do we have the wisdom to ask for help in making decisions on our pilgrimage? What does God want us to do for Him? How Does God want us to serve Him?

The answer to these questions are different for everyone. God is a personal God. He knows us by name and wants to speak to us. Listen!

Follow Me!

Quote of Jesus Christ

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference!

The Mystery of Faith

Tag Archives: prayer

Spiritual Warfare

Seeking Serenity

Seeking Serenity

By the Power of Your Grace

By the Power of Your Grace

Author’s Pick…Book Review #1…Prayer Styles

Prayers for Peace and Healing

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Reflecting on the Epiphany

Lead me Lord!

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism