Luke 9:54 (God's love is patient)

* Welcome God every morning before your 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). All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Luke 9:54

Living Faith snippets: "I take comfort in the thought that even after closely following Jesus, James and John didn't really understand the heart and mind of their teacher and friend. We are slow to change even in the face of powerful experiences of God's love and mercy. Jesus gave the Samaritans time and space to change their hearts. He does the same for us." by Terri Mifek

Rich's comments: A change of heart takes time (God's time), and it can't be rushed or forced. A changed heart takes patience, prayer, and perseverence. Saint Augustine's mother, Monica, knows this all to well. St. Augustine lived a very sinful life that caused Monica so much suffering that she once refused to allow him to live in her house. But she soon relented; realizing that the time for his conversion had not yet come. She gave up arguing with him (or asking others to do so) and turned instead to prayer, fasts, and vigils, hoping that they would succeed where argument had failed. In her patient treatment of him over many years of anxiety, finally ended by his conversion. Lord, allow us to plant the seeds of faith and to be patient for your grace to enter hearts and make them grow. Amen.

40 Days for Life campaign (24 Sep to 2 Nov):

http://www.40daysforlife.com/
* Campaigns in 179 cities in 47 states (24/7 for 40 days). Please consider signing up to pray an hour in front your local abortion mill.

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

Our Prayers: Abortion's end, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer cure, prisoners, leaders integrity, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, Rob Ouellette (St. Patrick parish special intentions), Scott Casmer (special intention)

Feast Day (St. Jerome):

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=10

Faith Quote: "Patience is the companion of wisdom." by St. Augustine

Through Christ Our Lord,

Rich
Romans 12:12

* Today's Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml. Reflection on readings at http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html
* 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 lie as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa. 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)!