Let's welcome God today by reflecting on this short Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (website, Facebook), based on Living Faith. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17I, the Lord, your God ... lead you on the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 (full readings)
Living Faith snippets: "When I allow my days and nights to be so completely filled with commitments and activities that I stop leaving space to listen to God, then I am in trouble. If I ignore those nudges [Grace] to reach out and help someone, if I forego my prayer time, if I let myself grow irritable and recalcitrant, then I have slammed the door on God's leadership. Let's slow down our pace so we can be led to where the Holy One dwells." by Sr. Joyce Rupp
Rich's comments: When I taught chemistry at the Air Force Academy, I learned quickly that you never return graded exams back to students at the beginning of class. You always wait until the end of the period, otherwise the students become too distracted to follow your lead in class. With all of the excitement and distractions of this Christmas season, we can also become too distracted to follow Christ's lead. Let's give Jesus our undivided attention at the beginning of our day before we become overwhelmed by distractions. Also try including a few spiritual speed bumps throughout your day (e.g. prayerful meditation, faith sharing, scripture reading) to slow down your pace and re-focus your attention on Jesus.
Faith Challenges: Let's generously share our LIFE Group by forwarding a devotion to others or by using the "invite people to join" link on the Facebook Group. Steve, Rich, or Pat will gladly add others to the email list.
* NEW: Begin your day by focusing your attention on Jesus. Leave time to listen to Him and allow yourself to be led.
* NEW: Please read Sr. Francelle's devotion about following Jesus titled God's Love.
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 (23% of pregnancies). Let's courageously share ProLife Truth to create social tension for exposing abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) free!
* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death in America (23% of pregnancies). Let's courageously share ProLife Truth to create social tension for exposing abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for 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), Aaron Ferrie (special intention), Health care reform bill, Brenda Alvine's father (pancreatitis).
Feast Day: St. Damasus I, "Instead of worrying about the short term of life on earth, St. Damasus took God's view and looked to the things that last. Pray for us that we may be able to look beyond immediate popularity and fleeting favors, and choose to do the things that God wants us to do. Amen."
Faith Quote: "Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God." - Diana Robinson
Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22
* 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).
* 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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