Matthew 8:25-26 (Who's really in control?)

* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com).

They came and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Matthew 8:25-26

Living Faith snippets: "There are, as the apostles discovered, storms. Instead of regret and fear, maybe this is the time to nurture faith. Faith that no matter where we go, God is with us and God is working. So perhaps instead of complaining, we could try asking a question: "Here we are Lord. I'm glad you're in charge and not me. What next?" Lord Jesus, help me accept my situation and see your hand in it." by Amy Welborn

Rich's comments: I remember 20 years ago playing Atari with my much younger cousin watching me. He was much too young to play video games, but he was just not satisfied in watching me play; he felt he had to be in control of the action. In order to keep him from crying in frustration, I would often let him hold the other video game controller so that he thought that he was in control. Then he was happy. It seems that as adults, the need to be in control has not changed. This obsessive desire to control our lives can even lead to our own enslavement through dangerous addictions. What a freeing experience it is to finally let go and let God take control. The ironic thing is though, God has always been in control.

ProLife news: http://www.lifenews.com/

Faith quote: "As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit." by Emmanuel Teney

Feast Day: Today is the feast of Blessed Junipero Serra (1713-1784). Junipero Serra was a Franciscan priest who founded nine missions in what is today the state of California. He is the one man most responsible for bringing the Spanish culture and the Catholic faith 500 miles deep into the Californian frontier. You can read more about him at http://www.smart.net/~tak/Patrons/junipero.html.

Our Prayers: Abortion, our enemies/our troops, China earthquake, Myanmar cyclone, Midwest floods, depression/despair, prisoners, Vicki Miller (her cancer treatment), Joe Castle (11 yr old Devantae paralyzed), Liz Curry (brother Bob broke hip), Kay Castle (cancer treatment for Ms. Nancy Wheeler, Welcome Home Warrior funding efforts)

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12

* Today's Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson lyrics, “When God's people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can't explain await!” "If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him."
* Defend the unborn: 'Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die' (Prov 24:11). 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you' (Jer 1:5). 'It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa. Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Evangelization: Let's make room for non-believers (be a friend, make a friend, lead friend to Christ) and perpetual re-evangelization of self and those near us, by way of daily prayer (relationship) and following Christ's example of selfless love, mercy, and service.
Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!