Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (archive, Facebook).
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace... Ephesians 4:1-3 (full readings)
Steve's Reflections: I attended a prayer breakfast, Pray Fergus Falls, at the local YMCA this past Tuesday morning. Little did I know that God had an appointment for me. I was edified by the words of a fiery Baptist believer from Georgia, but was troubled by by one comment. He shared, "A good Southern Baptist is afraid of two things: becoming Catholic and becoming Pentecostal." I uncomfortably looked at my pastor, Fr. Greg, who was also in attendance in his full clerics. He stood silently like a lamb before slaughter. I prayed, "Dear Lord, help me build a bridge with this man." As he was nearing an end to his preaching, he shared that he awoke that morning with a strange image on his mind - "Ostrich Day." Ostrich day? I was shocked as I recalled the image for last Friday's devotion - "Head in the Sand"! I raised my hand and shared with the group of Christians, "I'd like to confirm that message from the Holy Spirit. I sent out a devotion to over 500 Christians this past Friday, and the title of it was Head in the Sand." Ostrich Day. A bridge had been built. Only the Holy Spirit could do that. As he returned to his seat, which just happened to be right next to me, he thanked me, as he put his hand on my shoulder. His wife asked me, "Who are you?" With a wide smile and a twinkle in my eye I said, "I'm the Catholic who Talmadge is afraid of that found his Lord and Savior at age 15." With a joyful laugh he leaned over, hugged me, and laid his head on my chest; a genuine act of love between two lovers of Jesus! Unity. Paul's message to us today speaks of preserving Christian unity through the "bond of peace." The Holy Spirit, through the gift of knowledge in a dream, brought unity between two Christians. I'll never look at Christian unity the same - Ostrich Day!
Faith Challenge: Sometimes God speaks to us in the most unusual ways - never doubt those promptings of the Holy Spirit even when they don't make sense to you. They may make perfect sense to someone else - Ostrich Day!
Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Job, A Friend of God
Counter-Culture News: 40 Days for Life (ends 31 Oct), LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP), Rich Reich (cousin Tom cancer), Pat Castle (work to elect ProLife politicians), Carolyn McKissack (daughter Karen's health)
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace... Ephesians 4:1-3 (full readings)
Steve's Reflections: I attended a prayer breakfast, Pray Fergus Falls, at the local YMCA this past Tuesday morning. Little did I know that God had an appointment for me. I was edified by the words of a fiery Baptist believer from Georgia, but was troubled by by one comment. He shared, "A good Southern Baptist is afraid of two things: becoming Catholic and becoming Pentecostal." I uncomfortably looked at my pastor, Fr. Greg, who was also in attendance in his full clerics. He stood silently like a lamb before slaughter. I prayed, "Dear Lord, help me build a bridge with this man." As he was nearing an end to his preaching, he shared that he awoke that morning with a strange image on his mind - "Ostrich Day." Ostrich day? I was shocked as I recalled the image for last Friday's devotion - "Head in the Sand"! I raised my hand and shared with the group of Christians, "I'd like to confirm that message from the Holy Spirit. I sent out a devotion to over 500 Christians this past Friday, and the title of it was Head in the Sand." Ostrich Day. A bridge had been built. Only the Holy Spirit could do that. As he returned to his seat, which just happened to be right next to me, he thanked me, as he put his hand on my shoulder. His wife asked me, "Who are you?" With a wide smile and a twinkle in my eye I said, "I'm the Catholic who Talmadge is afraid of that found his Lord and Savior at age 15." With a joyful laugh he leaned over, hugged me, and laid his head on my chest; a genuine act of love between two lovers of Jesus! Unity. Paul's message to us today speaks of preserving Christian unity through the "bond of peace." The Holy Spirit, through the gift of knowledge in a dream, brought unity between two Christians. I'll never look at Christian unity the same - Ostrich Day!
Faith Challenge: Sometimes God speaks to us in the most unusual ways - never doubt those promptings of the Holy Spirit even when they don't make sense to you. They may make perfect sense to someone else - Ostrich Day!
Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Job, A Friend of God
Counter-Culture News: 40 Days for Life (ends 31 Oct), LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP), Rich Reich (cousin Tom cancer), Pat Castle (work to elect ProLife politicians), Carolyn McKissack (daughter Karen's health)
* Sue Peters (husband Bill cut his hand severely, for no infection and guidance for the medical team), Robert Cox (daughter Pauline's health)
Feast Day: St. Peter of Alcantara: Peter was a contemporary of well-known 16th-century Spanish saints, including Ignatius of Loyola and John of the Cross. He served as confessor to St. Teresa of Avila.
Faith Quote: "I do not praise poverty for poverty's sake; I praise only that poverty which we patiently endure for the love of our crucified Redeemer...." ~ St. Peter of Alcantara
Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:2
Feast Day: St. Peter of Alcantara: Peter was a contemporary of well-known 16th-century Spanish saints, including Ignatius of Loyola and John of the Cross. He served as confessor to St. Teresa of Avila.
Faith Quote: "I do not praise poverty for poverty's sake; I praise only that poverty which we patiently endure for the love of our crucified Redeemer...." ~ St. Peter of Alcantara
Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:2
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