Wisdom 3:2-3 (chocolate milk...)

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

Their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. Wisdom 3:2-3 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "All Souls Day [today] is the observance commemorating the faithful departed. When we recall those who have gone before us, our first emotion is one of sadness, not joy. While we believe wholeheartedly in the resurrection of the dead, we miss them terribly. We can hope and trust that our loved ones are now "in peace" with God." by Paul Pennick

Pat's nuggets: Certain experiences bring back memories of our faithful departed. When I am gone, daughter Grace (6) may remember me each time she reaches for a glass of chocolate milk at a restaurant. When we go out to dinner, Grace often finishes her chocolate milk before her meal arrives, and then she isn't very hungry. To avoid this, I slide the chocolate milk away from her until her meal arrives. Now, Grace slides it away on her own. What's your chocolate milk equivalent? Let's take deliberate action to avoid the next temptation to sin through established boundaries, routine prayer, nearby Bible verses or faith images, weekday church service, welcomed accountability, requested intercessory prayers from faithful departed, etc. For her religion class, Grace was asked, "What is the first thing you are going to do when you get to heaven?" Grace said, "Go find Grandma Mary!" Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for our dear faithful departed...we look forward to the eternal days of reunion with them.

Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (~250 of God's children). NEW members include Wade & Ashlee Sundermann...welcome!

* NEW: Let's offer a thanksgiving prayer for our own faithful departed. Let's consider a battle plan to defend our temple against the next temptation to sin (see nuggets above).

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* 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 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, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, refugees, addictions, persecuted believers, Peters family (JP in hospital), Lynn Bishara (for son Alex), Joe Hourigan (for brother Mike)

* NEW: Doug Young (special intention)

Faith Quote: "We focus on our scarcity instead of our abundance. We focus on what isn't being done for us, instead of what has been done for us! Jesus went to the cross, in obedience to God, and died for us so that we may be able to experience the fullness of life and joy with Him!" Pastor Don Bird

In His Grip,

Pat
Phil 4:13

* 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).