Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. Luke 11:52 (full readings)
Stephanie's Reflections: The Pharisees and scribes (lawyers) were the religious leaders who studied the law of Moses and the prophets, developing an elaborate code of conduct that applied to every facet of daily life. Those that came in contact with them were being poisoned with a false idea of God. They kept the Scriptures locked up, concealing from the people the most important spiritual principles of God's covenant. The power of the key was in their teaching function, by which they should have been bringing others to God. More than anything, God wanted from them a trusting, contrite and open heart. We, too, have to learn to live more out of love than by the law, not condemning others and in the process condemning ourselves. Over the last 26 years as a volunteer in ProLife work, I have occasionally been quick to judge people who have a different idea of what 'ProLife' means. My frustration, especially with the ProLife indifference of professed Christians, has taken me several times to nearly throwing in the towel and giving up. Still I persist...but only because of God's grace. Please pray with me: Lord Jesus, help me to live each day more out of love, than by the law. Help me to look seriously at my own life before considering what others should be doing or should not be doing. Help me to look beyond myself. Help me not to judge others without first striving to know where they are coming from. Help me to take people where they are as we fight this battle on behalf of your precious 'little ones'. Help me to remember that You see the big picture and hold all things in being. Guide me through the frustrations of my daily life to a deeper love for You. Give me courage, Jesus. Help me to persevere. Teach me patience and help me to be more forgiving. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me hear your Word and to do your Will, no matter how much it hurts. Amen.
* Stephanie Kemp is the oldest of twelve, Mother of three grown sons, and Grandmother of three. With over 26 years of ProLife work, Stephanie is a true ProLife 'marathoner'!
Faith Challenge: "We are all originals from the mind and heart of God...God sends each person into the world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing, with a special act of love to bestow. These have been entrusted only to me...to take a life is a rejection of the message, the song and the love entrusted to that person by God." Abortion: The Silent Holocaust by Father John Powell
* What message of God's love will we share today? What song will we sing?
Counter-Culture News: 40 Days for Life (ends 31 Oct), LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action.
* College students in Colorado going barefoot for week of pro-life advocacy
* College students in Colorado going barefoot for week of pro-life advocacy
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. Peters family (JP), Alpha Center, Rich Reich (cousin Tom cancer), Sarah Ragan (healing from the miscarriage of her baby), Sue Peters (special intention)
Feast Day: St. Callistus I
Faith Quote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him." Eph 1:3-4
Through Christ Our Lord,
Stephanie Kemp
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