I'm sure from the title of my post you already know I will not be supporting Fifty Shades of Grey.    Are you with me?  No? Please keep reading.   Yes? Great! Please keep reading.

I hope and pray you won't want to give the novels and/or movie your heart, soul, mind, time, and money either.  Many bloggers have written about this novel and movie and two posts in particular that spoke to me were:

1) Matt Fradd shares Five Fat Lies in Fifty Shades of Grey and states that "this poorly written “love” story is more than just a harmless novel for bored housewives. It is filled with subtle and not-so-subtle lies."  I encourage you to read Matt's post where he discusses these 5 lies.  By the way, my teen daughter and I heard Matt speak at a pro-life youth rally recently .  Very cool and funny guy!

2)  Mary over at Catholic Sistas asks Why Settle for Shades of Grey?  I encourage you to read her post where she states, "Admittedly I haven’t read it [Fifty Shades of Grey] and certainly don’t plan to see the film, but I know enough about it to know that it’s an example of how Satan takes what is good, what speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart, and perverts it into its own opposite."

And a scripture verse that really stood out for me recently regarding this novel/movie was "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.  Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever." - 1 John 2: 15-17 -

I was thinking the other night of this truth: the only way to combat the things of this world is with the power of prayer.   

So I wanted to encourage myself and others to support 50 ways to pray instead of 50 Shades of Grey.  It is with faith and prayer that we will remain with God forever, while the world around us is passing away.


1.  Pray to know, love, and serve God 
2.  Go to Mass every Sunday and everyday and receive the Eucharist







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This is a picture of Mary Lenaburg and her daughter, Courtney. I have never met Mary from Passionate Perseverance or Courtney,  but I have only "met" Mary through the wonderful world of blogging.

The Lenaburg family is in need of prayers, miracles, and funding for their daughter Courtney, who suffers from a seizure disorder.

I have been touched by reading Mary's posts.  She shares her trials and triumphs with such honesty, love, faith, and with a wonderful sense of humor!   Her posts will make you laugh, cry, smile, and bless you in so many ways!

This post HERE of Mary's was especially touching called "Leaving Room for a Miracle", which explains more about Courtney's current health condition and needs.  This post brought tears to my eyes as Mary showed a video of Courtney blessing their family with another miracle. 

Bloggers at Catholic Bloggers Network  have set up a Lenaburg Go Fund Me page to help support the Lenaburg family.   Please visit Mary's blog at Passionate Perseverance and read her story and keep them in your prayers.  If you feel called to support them financially, any amount will be helpful and appreciated! 

If you are a blogger, please help spread the word about this great need for prayers and finances for the Lenaburg family!

Thank you and may God grant Mary, Courtney and their family many blessings and peace during this hard road they are traveling! 

Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, is praying.  Maybe in their search for peace and love they will find the Prince of Peace who teaches that life is sacred because all life and authentic love comes from Him. 

"Liberty Counsel likened Planned Parenthood’s latest tactic to Nazi Germany’s attempts to use religion to dehumanize the portions of society they sought to exterminate.
“Planned Parenthood’s attempts to develop a ‘spiritual’ aspect to the pro-abortion argument can seem comparable to the religious leaders in Germany who supported Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. It was wrong then and it is wrong now,” wrote LC in a press release Tuesday."

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.

Click HERE to read a great post in response to the Planned Parenthood '40 Days of Prayer'.

Hurricane Irene is a threat for our coastal community. I have lived through hurricanes and I remember as a child, my family huddled in our hallway, during one hurricane (oops, I can't remember the name of it).  Our windows were boarded up with plywood, our home was dark due to either the power being out or experiencing the storm in the middle of the night.  We had our flashlights and we were listening to news reports on our radio.  Outside our home the wind howled and we could hear branches cracking and snapping.  When the storm passed there was alot of debris scattered and I remember one time our neighbor had a tree fall on their roof.  But, overall the hurricanes I have experienced have not caused significant damage and friends and family have been safe through them all.

However, hurricanes are nothing to play around with.  A friend of mine told me yesterday that lifeguards have been pulling people out of the ocean left and right because even knee deep water can suck you out with Irene churning the ocean waters.  Yes, the ocean is fascinating to WATCH preceding a big storm, but it's amazing how people don't think and risk their lives for a (sometimes fatal) thrill! As the newscasters warn, expect the worst (by making preparations) and hope for the best.  Our family is preparing and praying for friends and family who are also in Irene's path.  Please join me in prayer with this prayer I found on a friend's Facebook page.  Thank you and may God protect us all during this uncertain time!

PRAYER FOR PROTECTION IN A TIME OF STORM OR DANGER 

Lord and Holy Protector,like the disciples who were caught in their tiny boat in the midst of a mighty storm, we come to beg Your Help.

We are fearful as we are surrounded by danger.

We feel helpless and small before the great power of this storm which is beyond our control.

While everything seems dark and dangerous, we place our trust in You, our Lord and God.

Sheltered here in our home, we are also shielded by Your Love against all that might harm us.

We know that You hear all prayers; so we now, filled with confidence, lift up our petitions to You, our God.


 (silent prayer)

Lord, we fear for our home, for our lives and for all we hold dear.

Your Sacred Blessing is upon this home and upon each of us as well.

We are secure in the power of that blessing.

May the saving power of the Cross of Your Son, Jesus, encircle us and our home.

May all evil, all harm and injury, be repelled by that Sacred Sign of the Cross.

May the light of this candle be for us a holy sign of Your Divine Presence that fills our home in the midst of this danger.

Lord and Creator of Storms and of Rainbows, be with us in this time of danger.

Amen +

Prayer Credit:  Miracle of the Rosary Mission

OK, I know I posted on Friday that I would have a busy weekend and no time to post, but I just found this great post on Lacy's blog at Catholic Icing called Keep "Hallow" in Halloween that includes a  Pumpkin Prayer while carving your pumpkin. 

We just carved and decorated our pumpkins tonight with our family and I didn't see the prayer in time to use this year, but I will be sure to look back on this blog post next year and say the Pumpkin Prayer with my family. Thanks Lacy for the inspirational post to encourage me to keep "Hallow" in Halloween with my family!
Here's some close up photos of our pumpkins on our porch.  We cut out a vampire look for the "Daddy" pumpkin and for the "Mommy" and 4 "cupcake" pumpkins we used Mr. Potato Head pieces that I got free last year from our local craft store: