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
I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Psalm 18:2-3
Living Faith snippets: "In our moments of distress, where do we turn? To a friend? To the phone? To food? To a glass of wine? Inward? Off? We must train ourselves in less significant, everyday moments to turn first to the Lord. By practicing this behavior in ordinary times, it becomes a reflex action when things take an extraordinary turn. This training could be what saves us, like David, in our moment of peril. He will rescue you in your moment of need. Call on Him." by Kristin Armstrong
LIFE Group nuggets:
* Sr. Francelle shared: "Let not your hearts be troubled."
* Lorena Myers shared: "Changing name [to "Christian"] not only forms a new identify but provides protection from undoing what has been done; preventing backsliding. When the going gets tough in the new role we are called to play, it is a check point to ensure that going back means making a conscious decision against God's calling. This forces responsibility and owning up to one's actions; admitting that God is the head and allowing him the lead role.
* Jean Noon shared: "I LOVE the phrase “to create social tension” because that can be done with love! Tension causes an adjustment – change -- which leads to growth. This is how God’s law becomes written on every heart – through growth! Violence, defined by force, is not loving because, by definition, love is defined by free will. Abortion is violence. This realization can be uncomfortable (awkward, painful, raw) but it resolves itself through growth. A culture of life is marked by the law being written on each man’s heart, no longer relying on force, threat, or violence but on love alone to promote justice, lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness, responding to evil with good. Integrating truth with love is the greatest moral challenge, I think, to witnessing the kingdom among us. Eph 4:15 – “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”"
* Liz Curry shared: today's picture.
Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?
* NEW: Let's take a moment and click on the Culture of Life News links below.
* 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, Maureen Rogers (pain)
Faith Quote: "Recalling three penitential practices particularly dear to biblical and Christian tradition (prayer, almsgiving and fasting), let us encourage one another to rediscover and practice fasting with renewed fervour...as a preparation for the Eucharist and as a spiritual weapon to fight against any disordered attachment to ourselves. In the Eucharist we experience the fundamental transformation of violence into love, of death into life." Pope Benedict XVI
Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13
* 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)!
1 comment:
Today’s snippet reminds me of the purpose of the practice of centering prayer. Centering prayer is placing oneself in the loving presence of the Lord, “letting go” of involuntary thoughts that distract (no easy task!), staying centered in God. It is a gentle discipline that makes a habit of letting go of my inward, constricted focus so I can, instead, effortlessly –- with real freedom -- turn toward God and focus on His love for each and every human being I encounter. Seeing Jesus in each one gives me the disposition to do the truth with love.
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