Luke 19:31-42 (spiritual senses)

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

As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If this day you only knew what makes for peace." Luke 19:41-42

Living Faith snippets: "When I read in the Scriptures that people of Jesus' day did not recognize him, I think, "How could they have missed the obvious?" But I, too, miss the obvious presence of God all around me if I am not attentive. The love of family and friends, the beauty of nature, the answer to the problem I have been puzzling over, all are "visitations" from God, if only I will recognize them." by Susan K. Rowland

Rich's comments: Even those who are close to Jesus sometimes do not recognize Him. He appeared to Mary after the resurrection and she thought He was a gardener (John 20:14-15). She did not recognize Him until He spoke to her (the Word of God). The two disciples walking and talking with Him on the road to Emmaus did not realize it was Jesus (Luke 24:13-32) until He broke bread with them (Lord's meal). These stories reveal that human sight cannot see the resurrected Jesus, but spiritual senses are needed to see Him now. The sensitivity of our spiritual senses can be heightened by knowing Jesus reading/hearing the Word of God and sharing the Body of Christ with others (sharing God's love). As Disciples of Jesus, we need to keep our spiritual senses attuned to Christ's frequency so that we may recognize His everlasting presence in our midst.

ProLife news: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ and http://www.priestsforlife.org/

Our Prayers: Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, Joe Castle (medical concern), Joe Hourigan (special intention), Pam McGushin (family of six yr old William Hopkins), Lynn Bishara (aunt Mary with ovarian cancer), Stephanie Spader (for babies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome), Joe Hourigan (Silbi and Sabu to resist abortion pressure), Gina Prevett (her friend Renee with brain tumor surgery)

* Let's pray for courage to build relationships and talk about ProLife. Let's pray that We The People of America will shine Christ's Light and build a culture of Life.

Faith Quote: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." by C.S. Lewis

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.'

* Fasting: Let's fast from things that takes our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, gossip, excessive video games, etc) and take on things that fix our eyes on Jesus (selflessness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding, caring, helping, listening).
* 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 unbelievers (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)!