Let's welcome God today by reflecting on this short Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which is based on Living Faith. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17
And every day he was teaching in the temple area. Luke 19:47 (full readings)
Living Faith snippets: "Jesus has many titles attached to his name: Lord, Savior, Master, Messiah, among others. I appreciate these qualities, but all of them are somewhat mysterious, for I don't know any other person with these titles. Jesus is also called Teacher. To that title I can easily relate. I think of all the wonderful teachers who have touched my life. The Lord still teaches us everyday if we are attentive students." by Fr. James McKarns
Steve's Thoughts: WISE MEN (and Women) STILL SEEK HIM. I'll never forget those words a priest began his homily with over Epiphany Sunday many years ago. It was especially interesting because it was the title of the Christmas cards I had bought that year. Needless to say it got my attention and those words have resonated with me for many years. We recently heard from the book of Wisdom that if we had the choice between Light or Wisdom, we should choose Wisdom. Jesus is the source of all Wisdom and our Teacher - the Word made flesh. If we are willing and seeking after Him, God will use all circumstances (even the most despicable) to grow us, mold us, and form us. C.S. Lewis likened this process of transformation to a sculptor and a block of marble. The first initial blows are violent, even painful as shards of marble are scattered about...the Sculptor (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit) turns to more gentle measures to work on the finer details...eventually a masterpiece is created. That is a fantastic analogy to our life in faith as God continues shape us every day as our Teacher. Dear Jesus, continue to make me smaller and you bigger in my life. Amen.
Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (~250 of God's children).
* NEW: Reflect on your life and think back to those challenging moments (heavy blows) and how they have come to define the person in faith you are today - take a moment to thank God for those difficult moments.
* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images)...#1 cause of death in America. Let's courageously share ProLife Truth to create social tension for exposing abortion's unjust peace...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16) and setting the unborn (and parents) free!
Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas in footnote below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/despair, prisoners, politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, refugees, addictions, persecuted believers, Peters family (JP, Rebekah), Joe (brother Mike), Doug Young (special intention), Pat Castle (health care reform bill), Joe (daughter's pregnancy), Aaron Ferrie (special intention). Carol Nesbitt (Ron Hayes in ICU with H1N1 and pneumonia).
Faith Quote: "The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.." - C.S. Lewis
Through Christ our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:2
* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. 'If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn't, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead.'
* Fasting: Let's fast from things that take our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, pornography, bitterness, criticalness, impatience, 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 live as you wish' (Blessed Mother Teresa).
* Evangelization: Let's make room for unbelievers (be a friend, make a friend, lead a 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 (Matt 28:19).
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