PRAY IT OFF

Pray it Off 02/02/2012 Song - Sing Me a Lullaby by Twila Paris

2012-02-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

Sing Me A Lullaby by Twila Paris

'All I see is that I don't see what's ahead of me , I'm afraid my life will never be all I hope for in the end.
All I know is that I don't know where the road will go, If I dream, then will I find it so – will tomorrow be my friend?
Sing me a lullaby, sing me to sleep tonight. Sing me a tender lullaby cause all my heart can do is cry.
Help me compose my soul, quietly take control – sing me a lullaby and tell me I'm your child.

All my plans are falling through, and I don't understand – yes, I know, my world is in your hand, but won't you tell me once again?
Sing me a lullaby, sing me to sleep tonight. Sing me a tender lullaby, cause all my heart can do is cry.
Help me compose my soul, quietly take control – sing me a lullaby and tell me I'm your child.
Help me compose my soul, quietly take control – sing me a lullaby and tell me I'm your child.

Pray it Off 02/02/2012 Esther Ward Be Still and Seeking Perfection

2012-02-05T15:19:00.002-05:00

Be Still Esther Ward

Be still and know that I am God; He will be exalted among the nations; He will be exalted in the earth. Ps 46:10

Being still. As a child, having the time to just be still was something I always took for granted. Now, as an adult I find it very difficult to find the time to just be still. The busyness of life so often prevents it. It’s funny, I find that the times I need to be still the most, are the times when it is the most difficult, if not impossible to do. These busy, crazy times are when it so important to make the time to just be still. I think about my impatience to get things done, and my hurriedness to get somewhere and I wonder, “How on earth do I make time to for that with this busy schedule?”

God tell us that if we are still however, we will know that He is God. These quiet times with the Lord are most important; this is when God has the opportunity to speak back to us. In our busyness, it is hard for Him to give us wisdom, direction, hope, well… anything if we don’t listen.

Not only will we Know that He is God, we will see Him high and lifted up if we take the time out to spend with Him. What a great privilege we have to see the result of God’s work in our lives, in the lives of others, and even in other parts of the world! How awesome to see His mighty hand at work and be able recognize that it was Him! Without that stillness each day, we will miss seeing where He has been, and what He has done.

Let’s make being still with God a priority in our lives so that we can know Him better and see Him exalted.

Seeking Perfection Esther Ward

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

If this is true, why do we as flawed human beings, still strive for perfection? Why don’t we accept our own human failing’s, and the failings of others more graciously? It was quite a shocker for me, when I realized that I really can’t do everything right. I don’t know about you, but many things I do never seem to be good enough. I fail to reach my own personal standard every day.

I have also disappointed other people in the process. As hard as I try to please everyone, I find that I just can’t. I always seem to mess up. Knowing that about myself, I work very hard at forgiving others, and not being offended when others mess up and disappoint me. I realize I’m imperfect, and so are others, so that usually makes it fairly easy. I have discovered however, that other people are not quite as forgiving. That means remembering to focus on Christ, and what He thinks, and not be concerned with the judgements of others.

How grateful I am to know that while we ALL fall short of God’s glory, He doesn’t condemn us for our failings and mistakes. If we confess, repent, and are in Christ, according to Romans 8:1, “there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Pray It Off 02/02/2012 Work out With Heart & Watercress

2012-02-05T15:06:00.003-05:00

Feeling Good Is Contagious: Work Out With Heart by Dr. Oz
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/feeling-good-contagious-work-out-heart

Watercress http://itrustallah.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/watercress-health-benefits/

Watercress-Cauliflower Soup By Martha Stewart
http://www.rd.com/food/watercresscauliflower-soup-recipe-from-martha-stewart/

Pray it Off 02/02/2012 Lose Weight Through Better Sleep

2012-02-05T14:58:00.001-05:00

Lose Weight Through Better Sleep By Dr. Michael Breus, PhD
The Sleep Doctor

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/lose-weight-through-better-sleep

Pray it Off 02/02/2012 Make Sleep a Priority

2012-02-05T14:42:00.002-05:00

Feeling Good Is Contagious: Make Sleep a Priority by Dr. Oz
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/feeling-good-contagious-make-sleep-priority

Sleep and LongevityBy Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D.
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/kulreet-chaudhary-md/sleep-and-longevity

Pray it Off 01/27/2012 Song - Be Still by Storyside B

2012-01-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

Pray it Off 01/27/2012 I Don't Want to Exercise Today!

2012-01-29T12:32:00.001-05:00

I Just Don’t Want to Exercise Today—How to Stay Motivated http://www.breakingbarriersblog.com

Pray it Off 01/27/2012 Flexible Healthy Breakfast

2012-01-29T12:20:00.001-05:00

Healthy breakfast: Quick, flexible options to grab at home
By Mayo Clinic staff Original Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/NU00197

Pray it Off 01/27/2012 A Healthy Breakfast

2012-01-29T10:34:00.001-05:00

What's the secret to a better breakfast? By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD WebMD Weight Loss Clinic

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/healthy-breakfast-ideas-and-recipes

Pray it Off 01/19/2012 Song - Healer of My Soul by John Michael Talbot

2012-01-21T14:15:00.001-05:00

Healer of My Soul by John Michael Talbot

Healer of my soul
Heal me at even'
Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul

Keeper of my soul
On rough course faring
Help and safeguard my means this night
Keeper of my soul

I am tired, astray, and stumbling
Heal my soul from the snare of sin

Healer of my soul
Heal me at even'
Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul
Heal me at morning
Heal me at noon
Healer of my soul

Pray it Off 01/19/2012 How To Lose Weight By Walking in Place in Your Bedroom

2012-01-21T14:06:00.001-05:00

How To Lose Weight By Walking In Place In Your Bedroom by Shannon Sukovaty http://www.livestrong.com/article/182766-how-to-lose-weight-by-walking-in-place-in-your-bedroom/

Weight Watchers Lowfat Taco Soup http://www.food.com/recipe/weight-watchers-low-fat-taco-soup-157732

Pray it Off 01/19/2012 Top 10 Ways to Fail at Weight Loss

2012-01-21T13:53:00.001-05:00

Top 10 Ways to Fail at Weight Loss By Jennifer R. Scott
http://weightloss.about.com/od/getstarted/tp/aa032506a.htm

Pray it Off 01/19/2012 Start Your Diet

2012-01-21T13:44:00.001-05:00

Start Your Diet Carolyn Classick-Kohn,MS, RD http://www.a-personaldietitian.com/Time_to_Diet.htm

Pray it Off 01/12/2012 Song - Jesus Hold Me Now by Casting Crowns

2012-01-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

Pray it Off 01/12/2012 The Benefits of Physical Exercise & WW Cabbage Soup

2012-01-21T13:29:00.003-05:00

7 benefits of regular physical activity(From the Mayo Clinic)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676

WEIGHT WATCHER BASIC SOUP Printed from COOKS.COM

Pray it Off 01/12/2012 The Benefits of a Food Log

2012-01-21T13:16:00.002-05:00

LOSING WEIGHT IS TOUGH Ruth Woodhouse
http://www.helium.com/items/848890-what-are-the-benefits-of-a-food-diary

The Top 10 Benefits of Recording What You Eat in a Food Diary - http://www.weightlossmoms.com/nutrition/the-top-10-benefits-of-recording-what-you-eat-in-a-food-diary.html

A Food Diary: The Cheapest Diet Aid by Daniella Di Nenno http://www.helium.com/items/810593-what-are-the-benefits-of-a-food-diary

EIGHT HEALTHY EATING RULES (From the Diet Channel)
http://www.thedietchannel.com/diet-makeover-8-rules

Pray it Off 01/12/2012 Body Not Interested in Weight Loss & Why Diets Fail

2012-01-21T12:57:00.003-05:00

Body Not Interested in Weight Loss http://www.annecollins.com/diet_tips/lose-2-pounds-week.htm

Why Diets Fail From exrx.net

Pray it Off 01/05/2012 Song - Beautiful by MercyMe

2012-01-21T12:53:00.001-05:00

Pray it Off 01/05/2012 1500 Calorie Plan

2012-01-21T12:43:00.002-05:00

Heart Healthy Meal Plan (1500 Calorie) Non Low Carb - Healthy Weight Loss Diet Planhttp://www.changingshape.com/1500-calorie-diet-plan/

Pray it Off 01/05/2012 Reaching Your 2012 Weight Loss Goals

2012-01-21T12:31:00.002-05:00

Planning, Preparation and Patience: Reaching your 2012 weight loss goalsBy Donna Anderson, Berea Food Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/farmers-market-in-lexington/planning-preparation-and-patience-reaching-your-2011-weight-loss-goals

Pray it Off 01/05/2012 The Pray it Off Rules

2012-01-21T12:08:00.003-05:00

Without rules there is chaos!

Pray it Off (PIO)

1. Before beginning any exercise or weight loss programs Holy Family and Pray it Off insists you clear it with your physician and Pray it Off, as a prayer group, has no liability for any sports/diet related injuries or illnesses.
2. PIO is NOT a diet it is a lifestyle.
3. Motto- Eat less, move more and pray.
4. St. Pio is our intercessor.
5. Every Thursday 6:00 – 7:00 (Weigh-In Starts at 5:00 PLEASE COME EARLY).
6. At 5:58 please disband the weigh-in line.
7. Wear a name tag.
8. Donate rosaries in prayer box.
9. If you come in late (get your packet) and then quietly go to your seat.
10. Bring your Binders Weekly and Keep your Pray it Off Prayer and St. Pio Intercession HANDY as we begin and end with those prayers.
11. No Chatter During Presentations.
12. Must hand in Food Log each week.
13. Read One Bible Chapter Per Week.
14. Read complete packet when you get home.
15. Commit to Attending Weekly
16. Must call/email if you can’t attend, preferably well in advance with a good reason).
17. Confidential Group.
18. Prayer Box for Intentions/Ideas for Meetings.
19. Lending Library Cart.
20. If you use the elevator please make sure the upstairs/downstairs doors are securely shut. Park in the school lot due to Food Pantry parking.
21. Small Groups should follow the agenda and each member should try to participate. It should not break into small conversations within the group.
22. Please REFRAIN FROM PERFUME/COLOGNES.

Pray it Off 01/05/2012 SESSION 9 - A New Year Prayer

2012-01-21T11:51:00.003-05:00

A New Year Prayer

God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows,
we praise you for your greatness.

Thank you for the year behind us and for the year ahead.

Help us in the new year to fret less and laugh more,
to teach our children to laugh by laughing with them,
to teach others to love by loving them.

Help us to hear your love song in every sunrise,
in the chirping of sparrows in our backyard,
in the stories of old folks and the fantasies of children.

We rejoice in the world you loved into being.
Thank you for another new year and for new chances every day.

We pray for peace, for light and for hope;
we pray that we might spread them to others.

We leave the past in your hands and step out into the new year,
knowing you will go with us.

We accept your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead.
We depend on you to help us do exactly what you want.

We rejoice in Jesus' name. Amen.
Fr. Dave Casey, S.J., Chaplain to the Alumni

Pray it Off 12/22/2011 Song - O Holy Night by Josh Groban

2012-01-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

We ended the meeting with the whole group singing Silent Night - if felt like.... Christmas!

Pray it Off 12/22/2011 Healthy Party Snacks

2012-01-21T11:25:00.001-05:00

Healthy Party Snacks (lifescript.com) http://www.lifescript.com/food/articles/h/healthy_party_snacks.aspx

Pray it Off 12/22/2011 The Good Samaritan by Esther Ward

2012-01-21T11:19:00.001-05:00

December 16, 2011 For the Love of a Neighbor by Esther Ward

27 And he answering said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.
28 And He said to him, you have answered right: “Do this and you shall live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his garments, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the next day when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him,” Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”
36 Which now of these three, do you think, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, “He that showed mercy to him”. Then said Jesus to him, Go, and do likewise.
Luke 10:27-37

In the past as I’ve looked at this parable, I always thought about a physically injured person being ignored by “Christian” passer-bys and a Samaritan being a “non-Christian” comes to his rescue. I suppose I thought it didn’t have much relevance in my life; I help others and the needy when I can. However, after reading this the past couple of days, God has shown me a bit of a different perspective.

How often do we pass by people who have fallen away from the faith, or in the midst of struggles and difficulties? Or not really pay attention to what’s going on in their lives? Maybe they’ve begun hanging around people they shouldn’t, or maybe they become ill, or suffer from depression? Perhaps it’s a person who’s found out they have a terminal illness, or their spouse just walked out and left them. What do we generally do? Do we reach out to them, or do we ignore them and pass by allowing them to suffer alone like the Levite and priest in our parable?

The Samaritan goes to him and bandages up his wounds, then takes him some place safe were he can heal. He goes to him. He doesn’t wait for an invitation, or to be asked. He sees a man in trouble, and wounded who needs someone to help him out of his situation, right then, not later or when it’s convenient but then. Not just a temporary fix either, by throwing money at him, or a few scraps of food at him; but he literally goes with him and provides for him till he is well and can do for himself. Wow! Think of the impact of that? What if we all did that for those around us who needed help out of various situations? What if we acted like a neighbor instead of an accuser, or judge, and really rescued people? I don’t see even one time where the Samaritan asked him why he was in that situation… he just came to his rescue and helped him, it didn’t matter why, or how this man ended up in his predicament. Now that is the mark of true a neighbor. It exhibits Christ’s command to ‘love your neighbor’ perfectly!

Let’s remember to be more aware of those around us in our daily lives, and their needs. Not just their physical needs, but there spiritual and emotional needs as well. And not just the person who lives next door to us, but also the “neighbor” in the church pew you haven’t seen in a few weeks, or the class-mate in Sunday school who has been out for a while, or the clerk at the grocery store you go to every couple days. They are your neighbors; you should go to them if they are in need and help them, even if they don’t ask you. They may not be able to ask for help for many reasons. That doesn’t change the need however, or the fact that they need help in order to heal, and move forward with their lives.

Let’s remember to have mercy, and go lovingly and compassionately to our neighbors, helping them as Christ tells us we should.