Friday, December 5, 2008

Matthew 9:28-29 (do you believe?)


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

Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?" "Yes, Lord," they said to Him. Then He touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." Matthew 9:28-29

Living Faith snippets: "Jesus' words are reminiscent of Mary's fiat: "May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). Whatever knowledge His divinity might have given Him, Jesus surely learned to recognize the power of faith in God at home. So Jesus asked the poor and injured, "Do you believe...?" He simply invited them to share in His hope, a hope He had seen and lived out from His earliest days. Jesus, your family had faith in you. May my hope be in you and your will be in me." by Julia Schloss

Pat nuggets:
* Christ is the hope we believe in!
* Kay Castle shared this short video filled with God nuggets: http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/.

Sister Francelle's devotion: Read her devotion titled "The Sheep and the Goats‏" at http://sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com/. A few snippets: "Dearest Ones...Of all the parables, that of the "sheep and the goats" is probably the most startling (Matthew 25:31-46). At the end of the world, Jesus says people will be either like sheep or goats, those who took care of their neighbor and those who did not. Jesus said, "What you did to the least of these, you did to me." Our Lord compares the sheep to loving and giving people, who follow Jesus and do whatever He tells them to do. Love is the answer. It is as simple as that. No love for others, no reward in heaven. May you find joy in reaching out to others."


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 concerns), Matt Kayser (family of Jesse Alne), Rob Ouellette (Jeff, Arleen, Ramona, Pat), Mike Castle (eye infection), John Peak (parent's health & his deployment)
* 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).

Faith Quote: "One time I read that people need "islands of stability" - things that do not change in their lives. God is our island of stability even in uncertain times." Pastor Don Bird

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)!

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