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Hello everyone,

Today, Thursday 27th Febuary, we have 403 people from all over the world and from many Christian and some non-Christian denominations joining together in prayer. This week we speak about Prayer and Fasting. 

The Weekly Intentions are included below and available on a plain page to be able to print off and kept to hand for your own prayer time.

http://www.circleofprayer.com/prayerbook.html
http://www.circleofprayer.com/weekly-intentions.html

"Father, bless all those who have requested prayers in whatever it is that you know they may be needing this day! Father, we ask You to heal the broken bodies, broken hearts, broken spirits and broken relationships and may all their lives be full of your peace, prosperity, and power as they seek to have a close relationship with you. Amen."

"Thank You Jesus for answering our prayers because we know You hear every prayer and never refuse to answer. You are providing answers and healings from the prayers of all these wonderful people. Praise God!"

God Bless you all and thanks a million for being part of the Circle of Prayer - the Prayer Warriors.

Mary Mullins in Galway, Ireland
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Please say the two wee prayers below as often as you can, particularly the first one to the Holy Spirit if you need to see things in
a clearer perspective. There are some further down you might consider saying too.

"O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me, tell me what I should do. Give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Amen"
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"Dear Lord, I give you may hands to do Your work; I give You my feet to go Your way; I give You my eyes to see as You see; I give You my tongue to speak Your words; I give You my mind that You may think in me; I give You my spirit that You may pray in me. Above all, I give You my heart that You may love in me - love the Father and love all humankind. I give You my whole self, Lord, that You may grow in me, so that it is You who lives, works and prays in me. Amen."

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This has been a particularly mild winter for us here in Ireland and the consequences have been much sickness. We've had very little frost to kill off the bugs and at the moment there is a virulent strain of the flu going round for the second time, the last one being in October last. Half my village have been in their beds since last Sunday, including three of us in this house.

Anyway, the theme for this week's reflection is on the power of Prayer and Fasting. Fasting has nearly been lost to the modern church, with many arguing that it was only for early day Christians. Looking closely at the Word of God, we find that the Lord never did away with the principle of fasting, it is man who has attempted to make it obsolete. Fasting is probably more important now than ever in this crazy, evil world in which we live. 

What's really interesting about this is that many of the modern Bible translations have actually omitted a full verse that refers to prayer and fasting when the apostles were unable to cure the lunatic. So, as well as hoodwinking us into believing that satan no longer exists, these modernists with their sinister agenda are also conveniently 'forgetting' to include this verse as the only way to be able to release these evil spirits.

Check your own bibles and see if Matthew 17 has verse 21 omitted

"But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

The following translations omit the verse:

New International Version; The Message; New Living Translation; English Standard Version; Contemporary English Version; New International Version - UK; The New English Bible; The Good News Bible; Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition; The Jerusalem Bible

The following translations include it:

Douay Rheims; New American Standard Bible; Amplified Bible; King James Version; New King James Version; 21st Century King James Version; American Standard Version; Worldwide English (New Testament); Young's Literal Translation; Darby Translation; 

What is fasting? It is another means by which we can suffer for the Lord, through the voluntary abstinence from eating or avoiding something which we enjoy. Biblical fasting is done to bring spiritual results and is not simply for physical purposes. Doctors too are discovering the physical benefits of this practice and have found that abstaining from food (not water) for several days has a wonderful cleansing effect upon the body. Many impurities are burned up within the body as it is denied food, thus clearing the mind, and cleansing and healing the body. But obeying spiritual principles can produce positive physical results, as well as many added blessings. 

In the late 1980's we were told a story of two nurses who had returned from Medugorje determined to do the Wednesday and Friday fasts suggested by Our Lady. They worked in a West of Ireland hospital and noticed another two nurses across the dining room with just bread and water. They were delighted to see others taking up Our Lady's request, or so they though!

One of them went over and asked if they too had been to Medugorje and doing Our Lady's Fast. The reply was:

"Oh no, we are fasting for satan for the destruction of families"

Now if the disciples of the evil one know the power of fasting then shame on us Christians who should know the value of fasting! Sadly our Priests and teachers rarely speak of it these days.

On Tuesday the following email arrived from Elizabeth, one of the Prayer Warriors. It had been sent to her so I now pass it on to you. Perhaps you too might pass it on to everyone on your own mailing lists please?

Dear Loved Ones, 

This is an initiative of lay people who are devoted to Our Blessed Mother and who encourage each other to prayer.This e-mail was sent to me and I thought some of you may want to join in a day of prayer and fasting, for those who can fast. The sender proposes March 3, 2003 as a day for fast and prayer for peace. What marvels can be accomplished through prayer! Let us continue together with Mary Immaculate our journey to holiness. Have a God-filled beautiful day and an abundance of blessings of PEACE on March 3. Love (Sr.) Michele (aunt Mike) 

SAVE AND POST ON THE REFRIGERATOR! 

GOD'S DAY ! 

As Many of you know there is a chance our country may be going to war soon.... Many of you may or may not know that in scripture the number 3 represents the Holy Trinity.... Well, I was thinking of calling for a day of prayer and fasting for our country.... 

"When?" you may ask....March 3, 03. In simple terms it would be 03-03-03. Wouldn't it be great for all the Christians in the world, or at least in our country, to stop what they are doing and pray on the same day.... We could make 03-03-03 "God's Day.".... 

I mean - He was there for all of us - that day on the cross.... Faith is the door way through which all miracles come , but prayer is the key that unlocks the door.... I hope you will pass this request on to all your friends and family.... In Christ we trust,,,,,,,,,,,, 

On Friday March 7th I go over to the UK to bring back my Mom and 2 neices so will pop a weekly reflection into the post on the Wednesday or the Thursday before I go. I hope to have a lovely wee story for you all on my return.

God Bless till next week.
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Please continue to say the following prayers for peace.

Three O'Clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy:

You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty
Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen

Prayer to Saint Michael:

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast down to hell Satan and all his wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls"

Prayer for Peace:

O God from whom all holy desires, all right counsels, and all just works do proceed. Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Thy
Commandments, and that unafraid of our enemies, we may spend our days under Thy protection, in peaceful order, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Pray this prayer with the US, Britain, Iraq and the supporting nations in mind that their hearts may also be changed.

Pray before the Cross:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over the earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations, that they may be preserved from degeneration, disaster and war. May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate. Amen."