Standing in Prayer for the World

By Christiana Ntamere

This book, STANDING IN PRAYER FOR THE WORLD is the fruit of a hard work asserting that life situation can produce positive effect through discernment and prayer. It highlighted the knowledge and spiritual enrichment emanating from keen observation and discernment of Gods presence in His creation, which Sr. Christiana gained from extensive travels as a busy Bursar General panting for quality time with the Lord. It is a book of four chapters. The first Chapter articulated operational Divine mechanism available to children of God in quality time with the Lord. Quality time is a possibility in every situation including busy and stressful times. In Chapter two the book challenges us to pray for people especially, our weak brothers, sisters and leaders, so that devil will not mess them up. Chapter three is devoted to prayers for our ministers to live out their vocation so that they can serve the people of God faithfully in the spirit of God who chose them for special ministry. The final chapter reflected on the churches moral virtues compounded into prayers that uplift the mind of the one praying, based on the ethics of the virtues of obedience, faith, hope, charity, joy, kindness and humility. It includes a poem on the mystery of death, which puzzles humanity including Sister Christiana who lost both parents within three months interval. Reflection on the mystery of death builds hope cemented with prayers of total trust in God in all circumstances of life. This book therefore, is theologically sound and thought awakening to the wonders of the Almighty God made visible in the authors gravity of understanding and experience. This is a book worth reading for spiritual uplift and enrichment. It stands the test of time! Simply put, it is a book for all seasons.

Very Rev. Father Jeremiah Ofoegbu
Adjutant Judicial Vicar (Marriage Tribunal)
Catholic Diocese of Okigwe,
Imo State, Nigeria

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493149865

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Sr. Christiana Ntamere.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4931-4985-8

                eBook            978-1-4931-4986-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

First Published in Nigeria 2008

By New Edition Publishing Coy Umuahia, Nigeria

IMPRIMATUR

Congratulations for the efforts shown in this work

+Solomon A. Amatu

Catholic Bishop of Okigwe, Nigeria

Second Edition Published

By Xlibris, Indiana USA

2013

Scripture taken from The New Jerusalem Bible—Pocket Edition—London: Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd 1990.

Scripture taken from the Good News Bible—New York American Bible Society 1992

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version by American Bible Society, New York,1995

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: The Word of God Alive and Active—The New Jerusalem Bible by American Bible Society, New York: Darton & Longman & Todd Ltd 1985

Rev. date: 03/27/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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543644

CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

Forward

Introduction

Chapter One

Steps To Experience The Power Of God

How You May Begin

Pattern Of Worship

What To Bring To The Hour

Families And Their Dying Relatives

When Old Age Beings To Knock At Your Door And Beauty Begins To Fade

Externalism Vs Getting In Touch With Oneself

Purity Of Intention

Celebrate God’s Goodness (His Unconditional Love)

God Registers His Image In You And His Presence In All His Creatures

Quality Of Time In A Busy Place

Standing In Prayer For The World

Chapter Two

Are You Called To Stand In A Prayer Gap For People? You May Take The Following Steps:

Intercession

Claim Your Unworthiness—Repentancec

Seek The Face Of The Lord

Litany Of Atonement

Act Of Reparation To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Enthrone God.

The Litany Of Praises

Do The Battle

The Song Of Moses

The Power Of The Name Jesus

The Power In The Blood Of Jesus

The Power Of The Word Of God

The Power Of Sharing Your Testimony

The Power In Fasting

A Prayer For A Person In Bondage

Prayer In Time Of Need—Against The Principalities And Powers Of The Underworld

Count Your Blessings

We Have A Lot To Thank God For; We Thank God—

God Is Our Healing And Wholeness. (Jesus Heals)

Healing Prayer

Chapter Three

Prayer For God’s Ministers And The Church

Prayer For The Consecrated People

Prayer In Time Of Need

Chapter Four

Miscelenous Prayers And Reflections

Prayer For Academic Pursuit

Prayer For Leaders

Mixed Prayer

Prayer In Life And In Death

Prayer For The Sick

Prayer To The Most Holy Trinity

Reflections And Prayers On Some Of The Virtues

The Steering Of Your Life

A Story Of An Experience

The River Of Life

What You Give To The Poor You Take With You When You Die

Angels In Human Form

At Audi Grocery Shop

Reflection On The Transfiguration

Lenten Reflection

Palm Sunday Prayer

Pentecost Reflection

Christmas Reflection (Luke 2: 1-14)

Christmas Eve—Prayer

New Year Reflection And Prayer

Thanksgiving

A Short Reflection Centered On Mary’s Visitation To Elizabeth

Imprint Of God

Life, Suffering, And Consolation

Life And Faith

The Shaping Hands Of God In The Death Of My Parents

The Trail We Leave Behind: Culture Of Death

A Peom On Losing Loved Ones

Prayer

Book Review

Dedication

All the men and women of goodwill, who continually intercede for the perseverance of the faithful and the salvation of all

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In happy memory of my beloved parents, Late Nze Jeremiah and Lolo Ezinne Cecilia Ntamere who died within three months interval

In happy memory of the deceased members of my Congregation, Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, friends and relatives and all the faithful departed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I thank Linda Schubert the author of Miracle Hour for allowing me to adapt my litany of praises to hers.

My gratitude goes to a Sister of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (unanimous) who allowed me the use of her reflection on the parts of the body.

The initial draft was read by many people including Mr. Mark Nimo, one of the Charismatic leaders in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sr. Janet Nwokpo HHCJ, a Novice Directress, a Spiritual Director and author of many books including Novitiate House as a Fattening Room. The final draft was read by Rev. Fr. Gilbert Ostdiek O.F.M, a Professor of liturgy and Director of Institute for Liturgical Consultants at Catholic Theological Union Chicago, who provided material and insights on The Traditional Pattern of Prayer. I appreciate their help and generosity.

My thanks also go to my brother Eugene Ntamere, Fr. Ignatius Anele, the Parish Priest of St. Jude’s Parish South Holland and Fr. Jude Dioka who was a lecturer at Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri and a Parish Priest of St. James Parish in Wisconsin

Who help to proofread the 2nd edition.

I thank DePaul University CTI Tech Staff for putting the cover designs together for me.

FORWARD

This book, STANDING IN PRAYER FOR THE WORLD is the fruit of a hard work asserting that life situation can produce positive effect through discernment and prayer. It highlighted the knowledge and spiritual enrichment emanating from keen observation and discernment of God’s presence in His creation, which Sr. Christiana gained from extensive travels as a busy Bursar General panting for quality time with the Lord. It is a book of four chapters. The first Chapter articulated operational Divine mechanism available to children of God in quality time with the Lord. Quality time is a possibility in every situation including busy and stressful times. In Chapter two the book challenges us to pray for people especially, our weak brothers, sisters and leaders, so that devil will not mess them up. Chapter three is devoted to prayers for our ministers to live out their vocation so that they can serve the people of God faithfully in the spirit of God who chose them for special ministry. The final chapter reflected on the churches’ moral virtues compounded into prayers that uplift the mind of the one praying, based on the ethics of the virtues of obedience, faith, hope, charity, joy, kindness and humility. It includes a poem on the mystery of death, which puzzles humanity including Sister Christiana who lost both parents within three months interval. Reflection on the mystery of death builds hope cemented with prayers of total trust in God in all circumstances of life. This book therefore, is theologically sound and thought awakening to the wonders of the Almighty God made visible in the author’s gravity of understanding and experience. This is a book worth reading for spiritual uplift and enrichment. It stands the test of time! Simply put, it is a book for all seasons.

Very Rev. Father Jeremiah Ofoegbu

Adjutant Judicial Vicar (Marriage Tribunal)

Catholic Diocese of Okigwe,

Imo State, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

This piece of work resulted from over activity to slow moments of my life. The major part came when I was a busy Bursar General panting for a quiet moment with the Lord. Having struggled and managed to have five days quiet time with the Lord at Gwagwalada Handmaids Community in Abuja, the nation’s capital territory. I found myself reflecting in writing. Some part came when I was burned out—recuperating in Beaumont Community in Texas, U.S.A.

In my busy life as the Bursar General of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, every minute I spend with the Lord in prayer counts as a quality time. I got nourished enlightened, energized and fortified for each day’s work. As I travel, the countries, states, villages, people and activities present me a good opportunity for reflection and prayer: The architectural designs in Rome, people of different races and cultures in Germany and USA with their different temperaments, the teaming population in Lagos, Aba and Onitsha markets, the savannah scenery of the Northern region of Nigeria reminds me of my early desire to spend my life in the desert, the Victoria Island in Lagos and the sea shore, the Calabar river, the Port Harcourt Garden City, and the Warri Oil state, the villages in Imo State, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, the Cameroon virgin forest, dusty and slippery roads of Manfe and Ikassa, the rocky and mountainous roads of Bonjongo, the colorful paintings and cultural wears of the Ghanians for example, darkness and day, snow, cold and heat, the windy city of Chicago and the flood in Texas, the birds, and different colors and of flowers, the animals, the beauty on the faces I see, the homeless, the sick and the dying, the rich and the poor, display the handiwork of God of all creation.

I realize that quality time is also a reality in busy times and places. Every circumstance speaks clearly to me.

My camping experience with the Upper Room Ministry at Enugu, Nigeria, coupled with my little experience here in USA reassures me that evil is a reality. In the talk I gave to the Upper-room campers in 1997, I challenged the participants to ensure that their lives in the church reflect their lives in their offices or market place. Somebody said to me with all the churches and prayer ministries teaming up all over the world why is evil so rampant and multiplying In response I said if evil is multiplying with so many ministries what will happen if there are no ministries and churches.

Just like many people are striving to serve the Lord, still many others give their services to the devil. The battle between good and bad is also a reality. The attack on the church is real.

When I finished compiling the prayers I have on pieces of papers I gave it to my brother, Eugene Ntamere to read without telling him about my intension. He read them through and encouraged me to make a small booklet. I decided to make it a book to mark my silver Jubilee celebration.

Most of the prayers and reflections were written for specific circumstances and I hope you will find them useful in your own situation. For example, the prayer for Consecrated people was a Millennium prayer I shared with my community in the Generalate. The prayer for the ministers was a reflection of my groaning for the Church on the Pentecost Sunday of 2003. I went to church at Holy Name Cathedral Chicago. It was one of those masses I felt strongly that the Lord showered the gifts of the Holy Spirit on his children. After the mass many faces were beaming with joy and the light of God. As I came out of the church I saw about 15 people carrying placard related to child abuse just at the entrance of the church. It was like the evil one was waiting to dampen the spirit the people received from the mass. As I was praying in my heart for the church and the victims walking down the steps of the church, a lady approached me and said a few things about child abuse. I