x
0

Tag: Prayer Request

The Significance of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God

Posted on by wisitech

The Significance of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God

The Significance of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God

The Bible does not mention anything about the birth of Mother Mary. However, we do know about her birth. Ann and Joachim, Mary’s parents, possibly looked at her just once to realize how special she was. Her parents revered God a lot and were full of gratitude and thankfulness for being gifted with such a precious child.

Mary was brought up as God’s child.She was taught to serve and love God. Gabriel, the angel told Mary that she was the one chosen to give birth to Jesus Christ. Mary was deeply troubled and exclaimed, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. …nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary was a great believer of God. She had deep trust and faith in Him, hence, she agreed to the divine plan.

What is the Feast of Nativity?

The feast of Nativity of Mary, Mother of God, is celebrated on the eighth of September every year. Typically, the church has the custom to celebrate a saint’s feast day on the day they pass away. The day is commemorated as their entry into happiness forever. However, Mary made an entry into the world without committing any sin. The church had been celebrating her birth since the sixth century. It decided to choose a September birth for her because the Eastern Church starts its Church year with September.

Significance of the Nativity

Here are some of the key reasons why the nativity of Mary is so significant for Christians:

Dawn of Our Salvation
The Nativity of Mother Mary is a reason to rejoice as the day is regarded to be the “dawn of our salvation.” In 1974, Pope Paul VI mentioned so in the document Marialis Cultus.

Time for Reflection
Celebrating birthdays not only brings joy to the celebrant but also their friends and family. Next to Jesus Christ’s birth, the birth of Mother Mary brings the highest possible happiness to the planet. Every time, we celebrate the Nativity, we are certain of increasing peace and satisfaction in the world in general and in our hearts in particular.

Celebrating Mary’s Birthday also means Honoring Jesus Christ
The birthday of Mother Mary is special because, without her and her desire to serve God, things would have been so different. The history of salvation would not have been the same without her.

No one knew who Mary was when she was born. However, every time we celebrate her birth, we also remember and honor our Lord Christ. After all, Mary brought our Lord into this world. The Nativity is thus meant to honor Mary, as well as, her son Jesus. We must not forget that the almighty has created every individual with a special purpose and a lot of love.

The Salvation Garden offers direct access to the holy sites of Jerusalem. Please send your prayers and we will place themat your selected site(s)in the Holy Land. We only ask that you help us make this delegation possible by donating towards making arrangements, including travel and security. May the Lord hear our Prayers. Amen.

Please write your special prayer request here.

The Significance of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God

Praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: My Experience

Posted on by wisitech

Praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: My Experience

Despite temperatures touching 90 degrees, prayers don’t stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of the old city. It is hard to believe that these modest walls house the site where Christianity’s four most important events — the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, are said to have occurred.

What is Significant about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

The Gospels tell us that the Lord, Jesus, was crucified at Golgotha – the place of the skull. The current complex encompasses that original location. One cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the scope of history and faith that surrounds the courtyard. Wars have been fought and tales of honor among the vanquished abound.

Who Worships at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

Today, the joint ownership of the Church lies mainly with the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox, and the Roman Catholic denominations.

The outer walls of the Church display signs of classic Roman and Baroque architecture. However, parts of the structure have been razed and rebuilt several times. The entrance to the complex can be accessed via a flight of stairs leading up from the‘Cardo’ — the main street of Jerusalem.

Who Holds the Keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

Interestingly, the keys to the Church have traditionally been kept by a Sunni Muslim family since the time of Emperor Saladin. The story goes that the Caliph Umar took possession of the Church peacefully from the Roman patriarch Sophronius on the condition that the houses of worship in Jerusalem would not be harmed. To fulfill these conditions, the Caliph entrusted the keys to a loyal Muslim household called ‘Nussaiba’. When Emperor Saladin re-conquered the city from the Crusaders, he honored Caliph Umar’s arrangement by engaging another Muslim family called ‘Al-Goudia’.

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

At the entrance to the Church building, there is usually a long line of pilgrims waiting to be admitted. A series of steps lead up to the Hill of Calvary, where lie two chapels. The lavishly decorated one on the left is believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. The chapel to the right marks the spot where Jesus was nailed to the Cross. The Rock of Calvary, from the abandoned quarry that existed in Jesus’ time, is now encased in glass beneath the altar, with an opening through which you can touch the old limestone. You can even see a fissure in the rock which is consistent with the story that the earth cracked open upon Jesus’ death as mentioned in the New Testament.

The two chapels correspond to the Eleventh and Twelfth Stations of the Cross or the Via Dolorosa. The Tenth Station, where Jesus is stripped of his garments, also occurred on Calvary. As one watches these divine relics, the Apostle’s Creed comes instinctively to mind:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.“

From the Chapel of the Crucifixion, you can move on to the Stone of Anointing, now covered with a building and lined with ornate candlesticks and frescoes. This is the place where Jesus’ body was laid down and prepared for burial.

If you wish you can visit the immaculate Iconostasis – the link between heaven and the holy place. The Armenian Station of the Holy Women is commemorated by a circular slab with four pillars supporting a marble roof. From here, Mary and the women of Jerusalem are said to have watched the Crucifixion.

The Real Tomb of Jesus Christ

Going past the Station of the Holy Women, you reach the Rotunda, which houses the Tomb of Christ under a massive dome. Archaeologically, this site has been confirmed to be either the actual site of Jesus’ tomb or very close to it because a real tomb existed at the current spot. This area is flanked by barricades where Christian faithful the world over can come and pray for all kinds of miracles. For this is the site of the greatest miracle of all – Jesus Christ’s Resurrection from death — a signifier of forgiveness for mankind’s sins. This site is universally accepted as being the holiest site in Christianity and praying here is an experience Christians should simply not miss.

You can volunteer to pray overnight at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre even as you learn to wait for mass offerings in three different traditions. The doors close by 9 pm at the latest and only open at 4 in the morning. As the Franciscan priests put it, praying at the Holy Sepulchre Church can be painful but very spiritually rewarding afterward.

If by any chance, you are unable to make it to this holiest of holy sites in your lifetime, The Salvation Garden praying community can send a delegation here to pray on your behalf. We will send you photographs and videos of your prayer being recited should you so choose, for a small donation. These donations go toward travel and other logistics to make the trip possible and are only a fraction of the cost it would take for you to perform the journey on your own. Send a prayer request to the Holy Sepulchre Church today.

Praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Posted on by wisitech

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

St. James the Greater is remembered on his Feast Day – July 25 – for being the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles to be martyred. But more importantly, he was one of only three witnesses to the Transfiguration – an event that Thomas Aquinas describes as the holiest miracle in all of Christianity because it happened to Jesus himself.

In the words of Matthew:

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” Matthew 17:1-3

James – the Son of Thunder

St. James along with his brother John, are called “sons of thunder” in the Gospel of Mark, in all probability, referring to their fiery enthusiasm for spreading the word of Jesus. Less spoken about than Saints Peter and John, St. James was, nevertheless, known to be steadfast to the cause when others wavered and committed to the end.

James – Witness to the Transfiguration

Of the Transfiguration, the Gospel of Matthew tells us:

”While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

“When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.” Matthew 17:5-8

Both theologians and historians believe that the most likely location where this extraordinary event took place is Mount Tabor – an ancient elevation in northern Israel, at the edge of the Plain of Esdraelon in lower Galilee. This hill is also mentioned in the 13th century BC inscriptions of the Pharaoh Rameses the Second. The Old Testament mentions Mount Tabor as the site of the Israeli peoples victory under Barak over the Canaanites, led by Sisera, sometime in the 11th century BC.

Mount Tabor rises above the surrounding plains and other hills as the highest landform for miles around. It bears an impressive hemispherical shape with low brush adorning it. It is not difficult to see why so many important historical events have been associated with this hill.

This picturesque landscape is, today, home to the monthly ‘Miracle Walk’, where pilgrims join together to climb up the hillock and experience the same climb that St. James and his fellow apostles would have made when they bore witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus.

How to Pray for a Miracle at Mount Tabor

You, too, can be a part of these divine experiences by offering prayers for miracles at this site. If, by any chance, you are unable to make this vaunted pilgrimage to the holy lands yourself, The Salvation Garden praying community offers volunteers to undertake the arduous trip on your behalf, and offer any prayers that you may want said. Talk to our facilitators for a holy land prayer request fulfillment today.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Why Do Christians Celebrate the Feast of St. James the Greater in July

Finding Pure Joy in Prayer

Posted on by wisitech

Finding Pure Joy in Prayer

Finding Pure Joy in Prayer

Many people complain that they have to struggle a lot to pray to the almighty. Several such people are frustrated as they realize prayer is necessary. However, they hardly show any interest to pray. These people are also clueless about what or how to pray.

A host of factors contribute to the preference for avoiding prayer. When we struggle in this manner, prayer can never give joy and inner satisfaction. Rather, it becomes a burdensome task. Praying to God should be a voluntary activity and not something you do out of coercion or force.

According to scripture, God, who created the universe and everything in it, gives an open invitation to people. He tells us through his prophet: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3a)

1. Read the Word

Did you ever get engaged in a one-sided chat with a person who blabbered continuously without bothering to listen to you? There is a possibility that you did not like such a one-sided conversation. Many of us do the same thing while praying to God. We pray to him without reading the Bible. When we read what people who experienced Jesus and his tribulations have written, we become closer to God and our prayers get a fresh lease of life. God does speak to us through small acts of kindness from our fellowmen as well as through the daily breeze, rain on a scorching summer day, and other wondrous works of nature.

So, if you are serious about indulging in more joyful and effective communication with God, read Scripture. Chant a verse from the Gospels, which strikes you. It is a great way to find pure joy in prayer.

2. Keep your prayers simple

There is a strong belief that we have to use persuasive and passionate words so that God can hear our prayers. However, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Augustine have shown us that God listens to even short and simple prayers as long as they are heartfelt. Thus, we can find joy even in the simplest of our prayers.

Martin Luther King had once said that, “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” God will not mind if we talk to him in everyday, simple language in the same way we talk with friends.

3. Prayers should be creative

Did you ever compose a prayer or a hymn of your own? If not, why not try today? Your prayer need not be needlessly wordy. Prayers you write, also need not be clothed in the words of the saints to bring back the spirit of joy you experienced when you had the first emotional realization that God could answer your prayers. You can give music to a couple of lines of a Psalm and feel the difference when you pray.

Prayers can become dull if these are treated as a mental exercise. God made humans creative. So, why should we not include creativity even while praying? There is a possibility that you did not find joy while praying as you felt it was complicated.

Prayers are joyous and creative when they are heartfelt. You can also send your prayer request in the holy lands and have a devout intercessor offer your prayers for you.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Finding Pure Joy in Prayer

Finding the Strength to Forgive Through Prayer

Posted on by wisitech

Finding the Strength to Forgive Through Prayer

Finding the Strength to Forgive Through Prayer

Most people don’t seem to understand how important ‘forgiveness’ is to the central tenets of Christianity. Finding the strength to forgive through prayer is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings and his crucifixion. It is understood that Jesus accepted death on the cross so that our heavenly Father might forgive our weaknesses on earth.

Jesus Seeks Forgiveness For Our Sins Through His Death

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

Forgiveness is also important because as ordinary folks, we are bound to have wronged someone or the other at some point in our lives. Hence, we too need to be forgiven on earth as much as we the forgiveness we seek in the eyes of the Lord Eternal.

Do Not Be Quick to Take Offense Against Others

In the words of Jesus: ”For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

Similarly, we should forgive those who have wronged us because it is unfair to ask God for his forgiveness when we have not been able to forgive “those who trespass against us”.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

Nor is there a number or limit to the times we should forgive.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18: 21-22

The Lord’s Prayer

The most famous prayer for forgiveness is the one that Jesus teaches us himself.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:9-13

Remembering these teachings from Jesus’ own life, his poignant death, and glorious resurrection, enable us to find joy in forgiveness and a chance to look forward to something better in the afterlife.

Psychologists say that forgiveness is a method of releasing the pent up feelings of resentment or retribution against a person or community who has wronged you. But sometimes the feeling of being wronged can be too overpowering. If that’s how you feel then remember that forgiveness is not the same as forgetting or condoning a wrong.

You are not bound to reconcile with an offender nor release him from his legal consequences. Your only duty of forgiveness is with respect to God. Letting go of the pain will help create the character you so proudly exhibit today. It helps heal old wounds, allowing you to move on with your life. Prayer can help carry some of this heavy burden of healing. This is because prayer is your personal way of letting the universe know that you have forgiven and are ready for happiness ahead.

Is there a personal prayer that you have in mind for forgiveness? Write it down and have it read out in the holy land of Jesus’ own crucifixion and resurrection. Send an online prayer request to the holy lands today.

Finding the Strength to Forgive Through Prayer

6 Reasons Why We Pray in the Holy Lands

Posted on by wisitech

6 Reasons Why We Pray in the Holy Lands

6 Reasons Why We Pray in the Holy Lands
For most Christians, the places and sites where Jesus was born, grew up, lived, preached, was crucified, and was resurrected, are not just sites of historical importance but inspirational witnesses to purpose and sanctity of their lives on earth. While prayer is a deeply personal experience, praying in the holy lands as part of a group offers you a chance to connect and commune with God in unison. In unity there is much power.

Here are 6 compelling reasons why the faithful continue to pray and should continue to pray in the monumental churches and shrines of Israel.

1. Strength in Numbers:
To quote from the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

2. Getting a Glimpse into the life and times of Jesus:
We also offer prayer requests in the Holy lands because seeing, being able to touch and feel, stones, soils, trees, and churches, and being able to smell the same air being moved by forces as ancient to this earth as Jesus Christ himself, can be a profound, possibly, life-changing experience. Through actual images the splendor and majesty of a holy shrine may fully be revealed.

3. Enhancing Belief:
Access to the holy lands can add to your sense of belief in a real and tangible God – a God who created the cosmos but still sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to live among and intercede for mankind. Christian tenets teach us to have faith without demanding proof in God’s existence. But witnessing for yourself, the places in which so many of Jesus’ parables unfolded, gives you a better understanding of biblical references and their place in your own belief system.

4. Learning to Pray the Right Way:
Romans 8:26–27: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” It is believed that the Holy Spirit will help us when we are unable to form coherent words for prayer. This follows from the verses above.If we pray incorrectly, the Holy Spirit corrects the errors in our prayers before they are offered to our heavenly Father. To support this argument by another example, consider verse 27 of the same book: the Holy Spirit “intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

5. Gaining a More Diverse World View:
The holy lands are unique in that they are the only place where churches of many denominations coexist. Not only do Christian churches pray alongside Jewish synagogues, in Jerusalem, but these are also some of the holiest sites for Muslims and those of the Bahai faith. When you are offering prayers in close proximity to communities with varying rituals and practices, you begin to get better at and gain respect for your own.

6. Learning from the Community:
Pilgrimages to the holy lands of Jerusalem, Jaffa, Capernaum, Mount Tabor, Gallicantu, and the Mount of Olives brings you closer to those travelling with you. You learn to respect traditions, cultures, and discipline. You also begin to learn how to be a better Christian by learning from the strengths of others.

The Salvation Garden virtually opens the gates for you, and for Christians around the world, giving you direct access to Jerusalem’s holy sites. Now you can send your prayer and have it physically placed in your chosen site of worship in the Holy Land. Write your online prayer request here.

6 Reasons Why We Pray in the Holy Lands

How to Mend Strained Relationships on Father’s Day through Prayer

Posted on by wisitech

How to Mend Strained Relationships on Father’s Day through Prayer

How to Mend Strained Relationships on Father’s Day through Prayer

Living through our daily struggles can sometimes remove us far from the love of the fathers and mothers that bore us. Being physically far from your parents or not having spoken with them for a long time, your relationship with them may have been strained over the years. As Christians, it is our solemn duty to provide concern and care to aging and ailing fathers and mothers. If you have not communicated with your parents through broken relationships, this Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity to mend those relationships.

Sometimes, there may be genuine hurt that the father may have caused instead of providing the sanctuary expected of him. Yet, the Bible stresses on the role of the father in a child’s upbringing.

Proverbs 23:22: “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

Luke 15:20: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Hebrews 12:7: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?”

Therefore, it is Christian to find it in our hearts to forgive and tolerate. Besides, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to reconcile emotional issues and find closure before they pass. This article will help make it easier for you to go about repairing father-son or father-daughter relationships where they are troubled, especially if your father has grown old or is suffering from a serious medical condition.

The Bible is filled to the brim with stories of people who were less than perfect. But like the ordinary folks of today, they did their best to be kind, good, and generous.

2 Timothy 3:14–15: “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings (via Timothy’s Jewish mother and grandmother) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The first thing that we as children have to be thankful to our parents is that we have been taught the ways of our Lord – of prayer, of humility, of sacrifice, and of dutifulness.
As a strong, independent adult, and as a believer in Christ, it is your duty to re-examine the motivations and decisions of your father, in light of your newer, superior knowledge. Praying to the apostles helps us to overcome doubts and weaknesses for they faced the same during the tempestuous trials from the life of Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Mending a Broken Relationship with your Father on Father’s Day

Dear God, Dear God, I accept that I have not had the best of relationships with my father. I cannot say that I have been blameless. On this occasion of your bountiful blessings (this Father’s Day), help me reconcile with my father in his ailing years. Grant me the strength and the grace, the wisdom and the compassion, to mend this broken relationship. Amen!

Prayer through the Apostles for Father’s Day

O Saint Peter of the divine rock and house of the Lord, Jesus Christ! Intercede for me this day to the heavenly Father as I pray for my own earthly father. I beseech thee to heal his heart even as you help heal mine. I accept that I need to be forgiven as much as my mortal father. Grant me the strength and the grace, the wisdom and the compassion, to mend this broken relationship. Amen!

Are you in need of prayer or intercession through the apostles this Father’s Day? Write in a Father’s Day prayer request and have it hand-delivered to one of five holiest churches in the land of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

How to Mend Strained Relationships on Father’s Day through Prayer

What Changed My Life After Praying at St. Peter’s in Jaffa, Israel

Posted on by wisitech

What Changed My Life After Praying at St. Peter’s in Jaffa, Israel

What Changed My Life After Praying at St. Peter’s in Jaffa, Israel

St. Peter’s Church at Old Jaffa has been a beacon for Christians pilgrimaging to the Holy Land for centuries. Constructed by French monarch, Louis the IX in 1654 over an older citadel surviving from the Crusades, the Church has been destroyed two times and rebuilt the same number of times during its lifetime.

St. Peter’s Church Architecture

With its high vaulted ceiling, marble walls, and stained glass paintings that depict scenes from the biblical history of St. Peter, including the miracle-catch of fish, the handing over of the keys, and the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, this church is the perfect spot for quiet contemplation and inspiration for prayer.

Much of the building was laid out by Spanish architects and designers, however remnants from the French include rooms in which Napoleon himself is said to have stayed during his campaigns in Egypt and Syria. History apart, this site is important to the Christian faith because it is here that St. Peter is said to have raised Tabitha from the dead and this church is dedicated to this apostle of Christ.

The church is a sight to behold when viewed from the South side at night with its looming entranceway and bell tower. Inside the church, the high ceiling means that the slightest sounds can be heard loud and clear.

The Spiritual Legacy of St. Peter’s

Despite these outer embellishments, St. Peter’s church is more than just a tourist attraction or a thing of curiosity. It is a testament to the most famous apostle of Jesus, who the others looked up to and gave way to when temple tax collectors wanted information from the disciples. Several accounts from the life of the apostles indicate that Peter was first among equals – at once a man of feeling and action and firmness and kindness, on the other.

It was Peter who possessed the insight and showed deep faith in the confession of Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 16:15–18; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20), and it was Peter who rebuked, and in turn was rebuked by, Jesus when the Master prophesied that he would suffer and die (Mark 8:32, 33). It was also Peter who manifested the temporary weakness of even the staunchest in faith when he denied Jesus as his Lord (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–61). Later, however, with greater maturity, Peter discovered strength and, as he was charged by Jesus (Luke 22:31, 32), inspired others in strengthening their faith.

St. Peter, the Intercessor for Prayer Requests from Around the World

The trust that Jesus placed in Peter and his future role in spreading his teachings is displayed by the fact that Jesus chose Peter to witness the resurrection before any of his other apostles. Peter is often shown to be closest to Jesus and acts as his representative and spokesman on many occasions.

Because of this fact, St. Peter offers us the opportunity to act as an intercessor, pleading with Jesus, our Lord, on our behalf. As the head of the first church after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, Peter is the first leader of our communities in prayer. This is the proximity to the origins of the Christian church that acts as a symbol of devotion and faith for Christians worldwide. If you’re ever in Israel, this church ought to be an integral part of your pilgrimage.

Alternatively, you can be a part of prayers offered in the Holy Land, in the church of St. Peter at Jaffa, by sending in prayer requests to the Holy Land online.

The Salvation Garden is a praying community dedicated to making the Holy Lands of Jerusalem, accessible to believers around the world. If you somehow can’t make it to the lands where Jesus was crucified and resurrected, we can take your online prayer requests, print and hand-deliver them to select churches.

What Changed My Life After Praying at St. Peter’s in Jaffa, Israel

Faith Lessons For St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on by Elenie

Faith Lessons For St. Patrick’s Day

Even if you are not catholic, buckets of gold and leprechauns will floor your life in March. These modern day trinkets, have nothing to do with St. Patrick. No matter what denomination you are, powerful christian lessons can be found in this holiday.

God can turn curses into blessings.

Before becoming a saint, Patrick did not have an easy life. He was stolen from his Christian home and brought to Ireland as a slave. Before being kidnapped, Patrick was not a devout man, but hardship brought him close to God.

He began to pray. As a slave, Patrick prayed every day, whenever he could. After many hard years, God spoke to Patrick. 

Listening to God, Patrick escaped and found a boat that brought him home. Later in life, Patrick began spreading the Gospel and returned to Ireland.

Patrick spread the Holy Word throughout Ireland, and even converted his former slave master. They worked together bringing God’s message to the country.

God is always listening, even during your darkest days.

Patrick accepted God into his heart while he was a slave. In Patrick’s hardest times, God guided him. And in our hardest times, we must remember to run towards God. 

Do not run away from faith. Make an urgent prayer request and God will hear you, because God is with us every step of the way.

The bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow is your relationship with God.

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Miracle Prayer Request – Mount Tabor

Posted on by Elenie

Miracle Prayer Request – Miracle Walk at Mount Tabor

The Miracle Walk is a unique prayer ceremony, performed for special prayer requests only, on the top of Mount Tabor, the holy site of the Transfiguration of Jesus, the greatest miracle of all. Please read this explanation before submitting your prayer request. 

Transfiguration of Jesus - Miracle Prayer Request

The Transfiguration of Jesus: The Greatest Miracle

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event where Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory – like the sun – upon Mount Tabor.

Jesus and three of His apostles – Peter, James, and John – go to pray on a mountain, later referred to as the Mount of Transfiguration and identified as Mount Tabor in the Holy Land.

On the mountaintop, while praying, Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. Then the Biblical figures Moses and Elijah appear next to Him and He speaks with them. Jesus is then called “Son” by the voice of God the Father.

The transfiguration is one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. This miracle is unique among others that appear in the canonical gospels, in that the miracle happens to Jesus Himself. Thomas Aquinas considered the transfiguration “the greatest miracle” in that it complemented baptism and showed the perfection of life in Heaven.

For The Salvation Garden, as a praying community, the Transfiguration miracle has a unique importance, as it happened during prayer and the voice of God was heard on the top of the mountain.

In Christian teachings, the transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on Mount Tabor is presented as the point where human nature meets God: the meeting place of the temporal and the eternal, with Jesus Himself as the connecting point, acting as the bridge between heaven and earth.

Mount Tabor Transfiguration Prayer Request

Mount Tabor: Where Miracles Happen

Since the 3rd century, most Christians have identified Mount Tabor as the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.

At the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, Mount Tabor is shaped almost like half a sphere, suddenly rising from rather flat surroundings and reaching a height of 575 meters (1,886 feet), thus dominating by a good 450 meters the the plain below.

Mount Tabor, in the North of the Holy Land, has long been a place of Christian pilgrimage. Until today, Mount Tabor is the site of the Church of Transfiguration.

When in need of a miracle – a personal miracle, a healing miracle, or any other celestial help – believers travel far to visit Mount Tabor and pray.

The Miracle Walk Ceremony: Prayer Request for a Miracle 

Following the footsteps of several pilgrims and stories of great miracles, the Miracle Walk Ceremony was developed.

Pilgrims can walk the same grounds upon which Jesus went through the Transfiguration and pray. In this holy site, where the greatest miracle of all occurred, believers feel as if the prayer reaches further into Heaven.

The Salvation Garden team performs this unique prayer ceremony, the Miracle Walk, walking on the top of Mount Tabor, praying at the holy site where miracles happen.

Miracle Walk Prayer Ceremony Mount Tabor Transfiguration Site

Send Your Prayer Request for the Miracle Walk

If you choose to send a personal prayer request for the Miracle Walk, we commit to take your prayer to the top of Mount Tabor, walk there while praying your request, and hope together with you that all of our prayers be heard and answered.

Clearly, we do not and cannot guarantee a miracle. While this holy site has seen miracles before, this is not for humans to decide nor promise. Only God has the answers.

The Miracle Walk practically takes a whole day. Your donation helps us to cover at least part of the costs, which include 2-3 hours drive in each direction, an hour long walk and prayer ceremony, security arrangements, and other administrative work.

The Miracle Walk is limited in availability and we can only perform it once or twice a month, so when submitting your prayer request, please allow 1-2 weeks until completion.

After the Miracle Walk, to make it more memorable, we will send to you a photo of your printed prayer request on top of the Tabor mountain.

Please click here to write your prayer request. Then, after you select at least one church, click Continue and there select the Miracle Walk option. 

Valley of Elah: Prayer Request for Winning

Posted on by Elenie

Valley of Elah: Where David Defeated Goliath

Do you need to win over something? Be bigger than your fears, like in the biblical story of David and Goliath!

Join us for a special prayer in the Valley of Elah, in the heart of the Holy Land, at the exact historic site of the famous battle between David and Goliath.

Valley of Elah Prayer Request

To place your prayer request for the special delegation to the Valley of Elah, please click here. There, write your personal prayer request, select at least one holy church, and click Continue. In the next page, select the Valley of Elah option. Your generous donations cover the travel and security arrangements, thank you!

Valley of Elah Prayer Request for Winning

David and Goliath: Faith of Strength

The Bible tells us how the Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.

One day, David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance, and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?”

So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David oppose the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd’s staff, sling, and a pouch full of stones, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.

David said to the Philistine:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel … it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath’s head. It found a hole in the armor and sank into the giant’s forehead. He fell face down on the ground. David then took Goliath’s sword, killed him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. The Israelites pursued, chasing and killing them and plundering their camp.

Prayer Request for Winning, Healing, Faith

Sometimes prayer is the answer. The team of The Salvation Garden works hard to take prayer requests from all around the world to the holy sites of the Holy Land. The heartwarming thank-you letters give us the energy to continue. The stories about prayers answered and true miracles strengthen our faith.

Most days, we pray for you at the holy churches of Jerusalem. From time to time, we arrange a special delegation to an important pilgrimage site, taking your prayer requests to the most unique sites of Israel, where Jesus lived and preached.

This time, we invite you to join us in prayer at the ancient site of the Valley of Elah, the place where David defeated Goliath. This is where the bible teaches us that size doesn’t matter and doesn’t determine what’s possible for each and very one of us.

We can all do unimaginable things, conquer our fears, win, heal, help others. Just like the young David did, with faith in the Lord.

We believe that anything is possible and that we must not underestimate our capabilities. With a faithful prayer, you too can set your path in the right direction and have God with you along the way.

Prayer Request at the Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah is located about 17 miles west of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, on the Western edge of the Judean lower hills. It’s not a developed site and a little difficult to reach. The delegation would take both a 4×4 vehicle, some hot weather walking, and security arrangements.

Any member of our community who sends a prayer request for the Valley of Elah will receive a photo of the printed prayer request with the view of the Valley of Elah. We will pray for you there, where David defeated Goliath, where Godly miracles happen.

To place your prayer request for the special delegation to the Valley of Elah, please click here.

There, write your personal prayer request, select at least one holy church, and click Continue. In the next page, select the Valley of Elah option. Your generous donations cover the travel and security arrangements, thank you!

This first special delegation took place on May 8th, 2021. The next is scheduled for later in June 2021. 

Valley of Elah Prayer Request David and Goliath

Prayer Request Delegation to Capernaum

Posted on by Elenie

Prayer Request Delegation Capernaum

The spring season is just starting in the Holy Land and a perfect warm and sunny weather welcomed our special delegation to Capernaum. We traveled to the North of Israel to pray for our community members from around the world. The selected location was specifically selected by Jesus over 2,000 years ago.

Church of 12 Apostils - Prayer Request
Capernaum, Praying Inside the Church

Carrying with us your Holy Land prayer requests, We began the day early in the morning at Chorazin, a ancient settlement also mentioned in the Bible. The antique ruins of a beautiful synagogue tell a story of a strong community that lived here, where Jesus chose to spend several years. The fields around are still green, some with wild barley, as the area was know for growing wheat and barley.

Chorazin Prayer Request
Chorazin, The North of the Holy Land

Following our local guide, we then walked for half a day downhill, surrounded by green fields and wild plum trees. Looking closely at the trees, it’s easy to notice small thorns. Yes, these are no other but the Ziziphus Spina-Christi trees, known as the Christ’s Thorn Jujube. These trees were used for the crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head during His crucifixion.

Christ's Thorn Jujube
The original tree of Christ’s Thorn Jujube

As we continue to walk, a magnificent view opens in front of our eyes. A blue lake reveals itself in the distance, the Sea of Galilee. This view hasn’t changed throughout the many years that had passed. The Biblical view, the atmosphere, the blessing in the wind. All feels the same.

Sea of Galilee Prayer Request
An amazing view of the Sea of Galilee

After several hours we reached the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. In this area called Capernaum, after the ancient Hebrew name Kfar Nahum (the Village of Nahum), Jesus chose to live for three years. Here He selected the first Apostles. And more than anything, here he answered prayers and performed miracles.

Capernuam Holy Land Prayer Request
Capernaum, Delivering your prayer request here

Prayers where directly answered by Jesus in this holy place. Jesus expelled a demon from a possessed man here (Mark 1:21-27). He cured a Roman officer’s servant of palsy, the centurion is thought to have had the synagogue built (Luke 7:3). Here Jesus also raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Luke 8:41-53).

Capernaum Sea of Galilee Holy Land Prayer Request
Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee, Your Holy Land Prayer Request

Today, several churches stand in this holy site, referred to in the Bible as Jesus’ Own Town or the Town of Jesus. An old Catholic church in the Western side, alongside a Franciscan monastery. A Greek Orthodox Monastery to the East’ alongside the Church of the 12 Apostles. In between a long path allows believers to walk calmly and absorb the atmosphere. Not very far above, the Beatitude Monastery has beautiful views of the entire Capernaum area.

Capernaum the Town of Jesus - Prayer Request
Capernaum, the Town of Jesus – Prayer Request Here

This is were we were honored and humbled to carry your prayer requests. One by one, printed, whispered, carried in the light wind of this blissful holy place. We pray that the prayers were heard. May they all be answered, Amen.

Capernaum the Town of Jesus - Catholic Church
Capernaum the Town of Jesus – The Catholic Church

We, The Salvation Garden, offer you the chance to send your urgent prayer requests for any reason. Allow us to pray for you! Send your Urgent Prayer Requests now.

Our dedicated team members will personally take your urgent prayer requests to a Church of your choice in the Holy Land and then offer them to our Lord. After we bring your prayer requests to your chosen Holy Church, we will send you videos or pictures to assure you.

Capernuam Holy Land Prayer Request
Send your prayer request to The Holy Churches of Jerusalem

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Connect with us
© Copyright 2024 Holy Land Prayers | All Rights Reserved.
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping