Luke 15:1-2 (forgiving love)

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

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

Living Faith snippets: "Have you ever wondered why sinners and tax collectors were so comfortable in being around Jesus? I think they found in Jesus a fresh invitation to be in touch with God. Hurt by past judgments that set them apart, they found in Jesus the experience of God's love for them." by Fr. James Krings

Rich's comments: I have realized that in being so passionate about protecting the unborn and becoming so frustrated at trying to understand why over half our country does not believe that abortion is murder, I find myself becoming very judgmental. I need to understand what brought me to Jesus: His boundless, forgiving love. I need to channel my frustrations into love for my neighbor. I need to be an example of Christ's love to others. I believe that the other side is just as frustrated; believing that we are violating their bodies with our concern for the unborn's right to live. Somehow we need to make them understand that we love them too, and that we are just as concerned about them as we are about their unborn children. We need to be Christ to them, so that they too may experience His boundless, forgiving love.

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

Our Prayers: Abortion's end Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer cure, prisoners, leaders integrity, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, Rob (St. Patrick's parish prayer list), Tina Castle (Jason Peter's son)

* Lets pray for a change of heart for all Pro-Death politicians. Let's pray for courage to build relationships and talk about ProLife. As part of our prayer each day, let's fast from something that takes our eyes off of Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, gossip, excessive video games, etc) and take on something that fixes our eyes on Jesus (selflessness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding, caring, helping, listening).

Faith Quote: “There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” by Bryant H. McGill

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.

* 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)!