Thurs, 13 Mar (John 8:59)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

They picked up stones to throw at him. John 8:59

Living Faith snippets: "When Jesus responded to His challengers with the comment, "Before Abraham came to be, I AM" (John 8:58), the people became angry and picked up stones to do Him harm. I remember the stones I've thrown at others...verbal, mental, emotional ones, just as weighty and destructive as those that threatened Jesus. I suggest we each place a stone at our place of prayer [in our pocket?] for the coming week. Hold it while we ponder any stone-tossing we've been tempted to do or have done. Pray for a change of heart [metanoia]." by Sr. Joyce Rupp

Pat's nuggets: Please consider following Christ through the Stations of the Cross on Friday evening in preparation for Holy Week (most every Catholic church, open to all denominations)...you will not be disappointed! Please commit yourself to attend the Holy Thurs and Good Friday services next week in preparation for the Easter Vigil or Easter morning celebration. When you do this, Holy Week is like a retreat experience! Following the example of Christ (time in the desert), Christians need retreats. If you haven't been on a retreat ever or in the last year or more, please consider making time for a weekend retreat this year (Search, TEC, Koinonia, Cursillo, others?).
* Please share your Stations of the Cross, Holy Week, and retreat experiences to encourage those who have never experienced these incredible encounters with Christ.

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time...
* Fourth Station (Jesus meets his mother): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. The meeting of Jesus and his mother Mary was brief, but intense. [Remember this scene in "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson?] Mary stood before her Son helplessly, recalling the words that Simeon foretold long ago: "A sword will pierce your heart." Jesus gazes into Mary's eyes, and without speaking a word, assures His mother that the Lord God will not let this suffering be in vain. Jesus feels His mother's anguish and gives her the silent assurance that the giving of His life for all was the Father's means to give salvation and eternal life to all those who believe. Silently communicating her love for Jesus, Mary returns to her place in the crowd. My Lord, how sad it must have been for you to see your mother in such anguish. Even in the midst of your own dreadful state, you focused your attention on the suffering of your mother Mary. Give me the strength and courage that Mary had at that moment, so that I too can return to my place in the world as your witness to all. [Amen]" from "Behold! The Way of the Cross" by Thomas Gouin

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* 40 Days for Life campaign (ends 16 Mar) at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die" (Prov 24:11). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!