2 Kings 19:15 (The Shepherd of the Hills)

Welcome God today with this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (archive, Facebook). Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. James 1:22

You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. 2 Kings 19:15 (full readings)

Pat's nuggets: Last night, I finished reading The Shepherd of the Hills (by Wright) to daughters Paige (10) and Grace (7). This is a wonderful book that reflects today's Bible verse and following the Good Shepherd. "During the 20th century, it has been the second most popular book sold in America, after the Holy Bible. Set in the rugged Ozark Mountains during the late 1800's, the complicated lives of simple mountain folk are played out in a beautiful tale of love, hate, and ultimately forgiveness. A timeless story with a moral message that is as relevant today as it was in yesteryear." The book also brings out the importance of periodically taking a retreat where you can minimize distractions to taste and see the goodness of God. The outdoors are a natural retreat. From the book, "there is also healing for the heart and strength for the soul in nature...one gets very close to God."

* "The task and purpose of Christian fatherhood is to make room for God in the lives of one's children." by Fr. Jose Granados

Faith Challenge: Generously encourage others by sharing devotions.
* NEW: Take a moment now to acknowledge God as Creator (Father)...Savior (Son)...Helper (Holy Spirit). May this reality drive your outlook, priorities and decisions today. Reflect on this outdoors in God's gift of nature.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life. Reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death (23% of pregnancies)...expose this unjust peace, setting Unborn/parents free.
* NEW: Caught in the LifeLight: LSN Interviews Lila Rose (defending the Unborn!)

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Prayer to end abortion, Peters family (JP).

* NEW: Lisa Riess (Mother passed away), Carolyn McKissack (Uncle passed away)

Feast Day: St. Thomas More (patron of lawyers)

Faith Quotes:

* "The answer to a crisis pregnancy is to eliminate the crisis, not the child." Jeanie W. French

* "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

In Christ, Pat
Phil 4:13