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
Do everything without grumbling or questioning...Even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. Philippians 2:14,17
Living Faith snippets: "Paul wrote this passage from prison, at a time when he did not know if he would ever be released or allowed to live. And yet his words to the Christians at Phiippi exhort them to be joyful, as he himself is joyful. Keep faith, he tells them. Be steadfast. All this is for the glory of God. Loving God, help me to make a joyful noise today." by Karla Manternach
Pat nuggets: Today's reading and devotion snippets are true spiritual ointment for our post-election wounds. America elected a Pro-Death President and voted down the CO Personhood Amendment (defines a person at conception) and the SD limited abortion amendment. These election results further clarify our mission to live out our faith in Christ to build a culture of Life. Based on the fact that most Americans did not consider Life (abortion) as the top issue of the election, we have lots of planting and watering to do (1 Cor 3:6-9), as we work to re-evangelize America. In the Presidential election, the media reported that Americans put the economy as the top issue (comfort, love of money?, selfishness?)...ahead of the Life issues (love of God/neighbor, sacrifice, selflessness). Regarding the life amendments (abortion rights), most Americans apparently put themselves (convenience, cost, selfishness) ahead of Life (love of God/neighbor, selflessness). Christ told us that the Greatest Commandments are love of God and love of neighbor. By defending the unborn, we are loving God (His gift of life) and neighbor...protecting mothers from deep abortion wounds and saving lives of the unborn babies. Being a Christian requires sacrifice (demonstrated love) of our time, money, vote, etc...but produces lasting dividends on Earth (peace and joy) and in Heaven (eternal life). Sacrifice is the narrow road...which leads to the Kingdom. Let's pray for the courage to sacrifice and be uncomfortable as we follow Christ and put love of God and neighbor first...allowing opportunities to build relationships for sharing the Truth of abortion and what it means to be a Christian (love and sacrifice). Today's reading calls us to be faithful, sacrificial, and joyful! The election may have increased the darkness...which will allow more to see the Light of Christ shining in us (love, sacrifice, joy). Let us bring Christ's love and healing to those wounded by this election. Let's not lose sight of Christ's eternal victory on the cross!
* Stephanie Kemp shared this snippet from the editor of LifeSiteNews.com, Steve Jalsevac: "40 years of dramatic moral and spiritual decline, severely negligent religious leadership and a general obsession with materialism and sensuality has finally caught up to all of us in the West. Regardless of the result of the election, it has become crystal clear that that whole western world has been committing cultural and demographic suicide that can only be reversed by a return to our Christian civilization roots [re-evangelization] - for the good of all."
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: "I am Light, and I am Good. I am Love and there is no darkness in me. Removing yourself from me will plunge you into darkness. Declaring independence will result in evil [absence of Good] because apart from me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated yourself from me: Life." God speaking in fictional book "The Shack" by William P. Young
Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13
* 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)!
No comments:
Post a Comment