Mon, 11 Feb (Matt 25:37,44)

* Welcome God every day by reading the Living Faith devotional before work (~1 min). Order at http://www.livingfaith.com/.

Lord, when did we see you...? Lord, when did we see you...? Matt 25:37,44

Living Faith Devotion snippets: "I'm Christian, so of course I love my neighbor. Don't I? I don't know if he's been hungry, sick or in prison; I do know I haven't fed, visited or clothed him. When was it, Lord, that I failed to notice, failed to act? Was it when I was absorbed in my own needs, desires and fears? The sheep, too, asked, "When did we...?" Perhaps they had developed such a habit of noticing and acting that they were no longer even conscious of loving. They had simply become persons of love. Because they loved Christ, they loved the person in front of them; caring for others, they cared for Christ [like Mother Teresa]." by Mary Marrocco

Sr Francelle Devotion snippets: "Since the US Supreme Court passed the law in 1973, saying it was legal for doctors to murder an unborn child at any time during pregnancy, 47 million unborn children have been killed in this country [~2700 per day now]...more deaths than the total number of people killed in all the wars and all the deaths due to natural disasters put together! Just because something is legal, doesn't make it right. At one time, the Supreme Court approved of slavery, until the people rose up in arms and fought the Civil War to end it. When will our country give the unborn the right to life, a right guaranteed in the Constitution? Life is everyone's business. What can I do, I ask myself? What would Jesus do? Would He ignore it? Never. I can pray. I can speak out for life in discussions. I can vote for pro-life candidates. I pray regularly with a peaceful group in front of a Planned Parenthood building, where numerous abortions are performed each day. Millions of tax dollars are given annually to Planned Parenthood to help them kill babies. Everyone has a role to play. Those who are homebound or sick can offer their sufferings for this intention. Craig Moore said, "The worst sin of humanity, in a world full of evil, is when good men do nothing - then, evil flourishes." We march for all kinds of life-threatening diseases - for cancer, for cystic fibrosis, for AIDS, and that's fine .... why not walk for the life of the unborn? They are most vulnerable and helpless. These unborn babies have souls, which will live forever and intercede for their parents' salvation before God. Not so long ago, a celebrity was arrested for cruelty to dogs - is America more concerned with mistreatment of animals or babies? What is particularly contradictory about abortion is that when a pregnant woman is killed in a car crash or murdered, it is considered a double murder by law - that is, two deaths, instead of one - and the accused must be punished accordingly. But if the abortion doctor kills the baby, it is legal. Make any sense to you??If a young mother gives birth to a baby in a public bathroom and then kills it, she is put in prison for life. But just a few minutes before giving birth, doctors can kill that same baby and are protected by law. I do not condemn people who receive abortions or those who perform them, because Jesus didn't condemn anybody. He died for them, too. He is loving and merciful. He did say to the woman caught in adultery, "I do not condemn you, but go and sin no more." Many don't realize what they are doing. They may be either afraid, ignorant or desperate. I am saddest about the doctors, who take an oath to save lives, and then make their living destroying lives. With the use of ultrasound, there is not a doubt the baby is alive. A most important result of the pro-life ministry is that it has brought together people from many different faiths. Fight the good fight! Be brave - and unafraid! "What you do to others, you do to me," Jesus says. Let's love Jesus without limits this Lent!"

*Please consider responding to Sr. Francelle's devotion snippets as a comment to this devotion post...and then send out to our group distro (address below).

Saint Day: Today is the anniversary of the first apparition of St. Mary at Lourdes in 1858. Read more about these miracles at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Lourdes.
* St. Mary, please pray with us for an end to abortion. Amen.

Through Christ Our Lord,
Pat
Phil 4:13

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