2 Tim 4:7-8 (finish the race!)

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

I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearance. 2 Tim 4:7-8 (full readings)

Pat's nuggets:

* On this Feast Day of St. Paul, we read about Paul using the victor's crown as a symbol for entering heaven. In our longing for Christ's appearance, we draft in Him (lightening our yoke), learn His stride (His ways), and follow Him to the finish line (the Kingdom). Spiritually, we are all part of the LIFE Runners team, striving to draft in Christ, as we defend the defenseless Unborn.

* Today's verse reminds me of a wonderfully mystical song that my brother Steve wrote about longing to see the face of Christ. On Sunday, a friend asked who I believe will enter the Kingdom of God. According to St. Paul, we believe that at least "all those who have longed for His appearance."

* "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb 12:1-2

* This is a great music video...enjoy! Resurrection Sunday Dance.

Faith Challenge: How will you "long for His appearance" today?

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life.

* Vancouver Archbishop on Pro-Life Activism: “The Time is Now”

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

Feast Day: St. Peter (first Pope) and St. Paul (converted from Judaism).

Faith Quote: "The Christian’s race is not a competitive event but an endurance run."

In Christ, Pat

Phil 4:13

Mark 4:26-27 (Trust the Seed)

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

This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Mark 4:26-27 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "This gospel message assures me that God really does have the rest covered. However, instead of fussing about how fast things are growing and whose plants are bigger, I'd best examine what kinds of seeds I choose to scatter, when and where I choose to plant these seeds and in what kind of soil. I don't need time-lapse photography to show me just how slowly and imperceptibly spiritual growth happens. I just have to leave it to my Master Gardener." by Claire J. King

Rich's comments: Do you trust the seed? Because the seed can seem like nothing. The farmer in Jesus' parable scatters his seed and then seems to go about his business oblivious of how anything works. This farmer trusts the seed, and while he couldn't begin to tell you how it happens, he harvests a life sustaining crop. The reign of God, Jesus says, is like that. If the seed is good, a crop will emerge. What we need to do is trust the seed and plant it. The seed is not nothing, but nothing happens until it is planted. Lord, may we understand that the growth of Your kingdom here on earth is in Your hand's, not ours. May we trust in the seed of Your Kingdom and plant it. Amen.

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: Please read Sr. Francelle's devotion (Underground Churches) and read how Christians around the world continue to grow in their faith in Christ despite opposition from government.

* NEW: Plant some seeds of faith today; spread the Word of God.

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), Health care reform (protect the unborn), Haitian earthquake victims, Chris Wyckoff (for family during his deployment)

* NEW: Rich Reich (Carolyn who is fighting cancer and undergoing extensive radiation treatment).

Faith Quote: "Start small and let God do it all." - unknown author

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).

Matt 4:23 (the Kingdom is here!)

Welcome God every morning before your work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com). All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. Matt 4:23

Living Faith snippets: "The kingdom is here, inside and all around you, alive and active, and how I desire that you could see it, too! How I wish that your eyes could see and your ears could hear! The kingdom of God is here! Jesus, keep me so closely united to you this day that my life may proclaim to others that the kingdom of God is, indeed, here!" by Sr. Charleen Hug

Sister Francelle's devotion: Read her devotion titled "New Year 2009‏‏" at http://sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com/. Some snippets: "Dearest Ones, If there is anything we truly need in this New Year, it is to get closer to God and to grow in the love of our Savior. Prayer and good Christian self-talk go a long way to having that Happy New Year that we have been wishing each other. Christian self-talk is handling the stress that comes your way by reacting to it in a Christian manner. What we tell ourselves as Christians is largely shaped by how familiar we are with the Bible. After all, God's word tells us that it is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. This new year, face your fears. Fears are removed by replacing them with faith. Say to yourself again and again: "I trust in you, O Lord; my life is in your hands." I have been praying that Jesus will tell me what he wants me to do this new year and this is what I came up with: "to never consciously hurt anyone; to do as much good as possible, as often as possible, and in as many places as possible." Above all, I want to have a thankful heart and not take people or things for granted. The beauty God gives in nature, such as, the awesome beauty of silently falling snow has a way of uniting me with God. Each one-of-a-kind snowflake reminds me that each of us is wonderfully and uniquely created by God, and the peaceful white blanket is the security of His tender love for us, and the peace He offers us each day. If only I notice and remain grateful, I can see God's beauty everywhere. I pray you will be brave enough to look at your trials - not through fear but through hope, holding tight to the hand of Our father. Our journey of faith never ends. It continues and grows with each passing year, as we search for the inner peace that only God can give."

ProLife news: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ & http://www.priestsforlife.org/

* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (click here for images).

* Let's pray for courage to communicate the ProLife message through Christ to those around us (John 14:6)...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16).

Our Prayers: Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, Mike Castle (eye infection), Carolyn McKissack (granddaughter Bailee with Crohn's), Joe Levisky (medical issues), Rob Ouellette (St. Patrick's prayer list), Rich Reich (Granny's health problems), Dan Castle (for alcoholics to accept intervention), Jason Peters (health of son JP)
* Peace in the Middle East (Iraq, Gaza)

* Praise: Liz Curry (friend Julie is cancer free!)

Feast Day (St. John Neumann): http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=70

Faith Quote: Doug Young shared this verse on his Christmas card, "Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of Life." John 8:12

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat

Phil 4:13

* Today's Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml. Reflection on readings at http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html

* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson lyrics, “When God's people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can't explain await!” 'If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him.'

* Fasting: Let's fast from things that takes our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, 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 lie as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa.

* Evangelization: Let's make room for unbelievers (be a friend, make a friend, lead 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.

Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Galatians 1:24 (zealous for Jesus)

* Welcome God every morning before your work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com). All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

The one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. Galatians 1:24

Living Faith snippets: "Paul, of course, in the New Testament, is presented as a transformed accuser, a converted persecutor, maybe even a mass murderer, whom we call a saint. He was a perfect Pharisee, as he said, and suddenly he realized that in the name of love he had become hate, in the name of religion he had become a murderer, in the name of goodness he had become evil." by Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M.

Rich's comments: Are you zealous? Is there anything in your life that you are passionate about and that you pursue with a vengence because you just can't help it? Paul was zealous about persecuting the church. He was intent on exterminating Christianity. Jesus recognized the gift of passion in Paul, and was able to use it to do God's will. Paul became a preacher of righteousness after he had an encounter with the Living God. The truth is that we are all zealous for something (e.g., work, our hobbies, world's distractions), and as followers of Christ, we need to be zealous for Jesus. Lord, I pray that we can redirect our passions towards serving You and the Kingdom of God. Amen.

40 Days for Life campaign (24 Sep to 2 Nov): Campaigns in 179 cities in 47 states (24/7 for 40 days). Please sign up to pray an hour in front your local abortion mill.* Updates from the national director, David Bereit, at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* ProLife news: http://www.lifenews.com/

Our Prayers: Abortion's end, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer cure, prisoners, leaders integrity, loss of loved ones, lack of faith. Let's dedicate Wed nights as a special 'pray with your family night' (Rosary, Bible reading, etc)...the family that prays together, stays together.

Feast Day (Our Lady of the Rosary): http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1161

Faith Quote: "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion." by Hebbel

Through Christ Our Lord,

Rich

Romans 12:12

* Today's Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml. Reflection on readings at http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html

* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson lyrics, “When God's people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can't explain await!” 'If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him.'

* 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 lie as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa. Prayer to End Abortion.

* Evangelization: Let's make room for non-believers (be a friend, make a friend, lead 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.

Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!