1 Samuel 1:5 (enjoy your "hot choco"!)

Let's welcome God today by reflecting on this 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. 3:17

...but a double portion to Hannah because He loved her, though the Lord had made her barren. 1 Samuel 1:5 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Barrenness can be defined in many ways, not just the inability to have a child. Barrenness can mean brokenness, unfulfilled dreams, empty parts of your heart, dashed hopes, anything that hasn't turned out the way you'd planned. Like Hannah, we all grieve the areas of our life that aren't showing signs of growth. The important thing about grief is to know where to take it: to God. Barrenness is not always a permanent state for those who trust in the Lord; Hannah later had a son named Samuel. Pour your heart out to the Lord, and dedicate your future fulfillment to Him. Have faith as each chapter of your story is written. Our God specializes in the impossible. [Phil 4:13]" by Kristin Armstrong

Pat's nuggets:
* During this cold snap, Mandy Tentiger shared: "Life is the hot choco...your job, salary and position is the cup. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot choco God has provided us! Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly...and leave the rest to God. The richest person is not the one who has the most [stuff], but the one who needs the least [stuff]"...is the one needing and trusting in God (faith)!

* Pastor Don's devotion (Successfully Significant): "...we are called to significance, not success. When we pursue significance, we will always find success. A significant person invests himself/herself into the lives of others. A significant church invests itself in walking with all people in the joys and pains of life. Because our Lord has done the same for us. Strive toward becoming successfully significant instead of significantly successful."

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by forwarding a devotion to others or by using the Facebook Group "invite people to join" link to invite your friends. Steve, Rich, or Pat will gladly add others to the email list.
* NEW: Let's warm others with the Light of Christ, so they too have an Epiphany that Christ is truly the Way to peace, joy and eternal Life!

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, 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!

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), Shantelle Castle (special intention), Health care reform bill (protect the unborn)

* NEW: Pope Benedict XVI: "That every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel. That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society."

Faith quotes:

* "Lust is the best this world has to offer, but love offers you the best life in the world." The Love Dare

* "Live your life so that when you wake up in the morning and your feet hit the floor, the devil says, Oh crud, you're up!"

In God We Trust,

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).