Luke 2:34 (strip away worldly shell)

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

This child is destined for the fall and rise of many... Luke 2:34

Living Faith snippets: “The liturgical readings today try to nudge us away from the nostalgic memories to the start reality that Christ's birth creates division between those who accept and those who reject him, those who love and those who hate. Allow some extra time in the Christmas spirit, letting it strip away the shell we grow to protect our hearts and souls in an insecure, troubled world. Christmas is about a child, and children invite us to honesty, vulnerability and love. Spend a few quiet moments in prayer [each day]. In your daily interactions, choose love, choose vulnerability, choose discipleship. Christmas is meant to last all year." by Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes (author of Journal for Surviving Depression and Making Peace with Yourself)

ProLife news: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ & http://www.priestsforlife.org/.
* Let's pray for courage to communicate the ProLife message through Christ to those around us (John 14:6)...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16).

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, Kathy Ayers brain surgery, Mike Castle (eye infection), Jason Peters (son JP), Carolyn McKissack (granddaughter Bailee with Crohn's), Joe Levisky (health issue), Rob Ouellette (St. Pat's prayer list), Rich Reich (Granny's health issues), Liz Curry (Bill, Julie), Dan Castle (for alcoholics Josh/Rachael)

Faith Quote: Sharon Carlson shared this one. "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11

Feast Day (St. Thomas Becket): http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=12.

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.'
* 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)!