Acts 4:34-35 (stewardship vs. ownership)

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. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

Those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. Acts 4:34-35

Living Faith snippets: "Talk of redistribution of tangible wealth can make us uncomfortable. We tell ourselves that large-scale attempts to do it in the modern world have failed, primarily because those responsible were mere mortals and looked out for themselves, not the greater good. What if "property" included the time to drive a neighbor to the doctor or a donation of accounting skills to a parish ministry? If we pool our time, talent and treasure to help others because we burn to grow closer to Christ, can that be wrong?" by Melanie Rigney

Rich's comments: We take pride in ownership, because we believe that we have earned our possessions, but we easily forget that these things are gifts from God that have been entrusted to us. We are called to be good stewards of His gifts. I believe that God has spread these resources disproportionately across the globe as a test of our love. He has given us this responsibility on Earth to do His will so that He may entrust us with greater responsibility in Heaven. Lord, thank you for the gifts that you have bestowed upon us and the responsibility to do Your will. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News.

* NEW: Evaluate how you use God's resources in your life and cut out the waste by striving to live a simpler life.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images)...#1 cause of death in America. Let's courageously share ProLife Truth (John 14:6) to create social tension for exposing abortion's unjust peace...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16) and setting the unborn free!

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, addictions

Feast Day: St. Anselm

Faith Quote: "Live simply so that others may simply live." - Mother Teresa

Through Christ our Lord,

Rich

Romans 12:12

* 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, bitterness, being so critical, 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 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 invite others to join our LIFE Group...Rich or Pat will gladly add them to the devotions distribution list (Mark 16:15)!