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- Our Daily Cross
  
  And He said to all, “if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.“ ~ Luke 9:23
  
  How beautiful to see our struggles as an opportunity to rely on God. John, the beloved disciple, wrote, “so we know and believe the love God has for us.“ (1Jn4:16) That simple affirmation of faith, coupled with my belief that God orders all for my good, never fails to bring me comfort. These truths relate to both the situations I can see as good, and those circumstances where the goodness isn’t quite so obvious.
  In St. Luke’s gospel, Christ tells us if we want to follow him, we must pick up our cross daily. I’ve often found it funny that Luke, the physician, includes the word daily. Saint Matthew also shares Jesus‘ words of wisdom, but leaves out the daily aspect. It reminds me of the adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.“ Perhaps Saint Luke is trying to teach us that carrying our cross each day will keep evil at bay.
  Every morning I need to renew my decision to follow Christ and then ask for his help to persevere with my diet, budget, and perhaps a holiness. “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). That’s the secret— In Christ. The strength comes from him, and he’s always ready to give. But I keep taking it back, thinking I can do it off, maybe be afraid to use up all my prayers like a genie lamp.
  Struggles come and go. As long as we are breathing, we’ll have them; be it our health, holiness, or family’s financial well-being. The flesh is indeed weak, but God is strong: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). Saint Paul wisely reminds us that Jesus’s grace is enough
  
  Prayer: Lord, whether my cross be heavy or light, may I always yoke myself to you in carrying it. Amen.
  
  Respond to His Call:Make a list of your crosses and contemplate how Jesus is trying to help you carry them.
  -Allison Gingras
  Called By Name
- More encouragement...
  
  SEASONS
  BODYGUARDS
  CROWDED
- Parents' prayer for their children
  
  This lovely prayer bring help & clarity to parents in their critical role of raising faithful & obedient children in this turbulent society...
  O God the Father of mankind, who hast given unto me these my children,
  and committed them to my charge to bring them up for Thee,
  and to prepare them for eternal life: help me with Thy heavenly grace,
  that I may be able to fulfill this most sacred duty and stewardship.
  Teach me both what to give and what to withhold;
  when to reprove and when to forbear; make me to be gentle, yet firm;
  considerate and watchful; and deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence,
  and the excess of severity; and grant that, both by word and example,
  I may be careful to lead them in the ways of wisdom and true piety,
  so that at last I may, with them, be admitted to the unspeakable joys
  of our true home in heaven, in the company of the blessed Angels and Saints.
  Amen.
  
  O Heavenly Father, I commend my children to Thy care. Be Thou their God and
  Father; and mercifully supply whatever is lacking in me through frailty or negligence. Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world, whether from within or
  without; and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy.
  Pour Thy grace into their hearts, and strengthen and multiply in them the gifts
  of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and in knowledge
  of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so, faithfully serving Thee here,
  may come to rejoice in Thy presence hereafter.
  Amen.