Acts 11:9 (embracing "those people"...)

Let's welcome God every morning before 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

What God has made clean, you are not to call profane. Acts 11:9 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "I can rush to judgment about certain things. The cashier in the grocery store is working too slowly, or my friend's late arrival indicates his irresponsibility. My inner critic can separate me from others, gradually leading to a toxic outlook on life. Many people in the early Church felt that Gentiles could never be good Christians because they were not circumcised or did not follow Jewish law. God's love is deeper and fuller than we can comprehend, and any limits we place on it are artificial. When we find ourselves talking about "those people" or creating distance by being critical of everybody around us (including ourselves), remembering this Truth could serve to open our hearts to the trove of God's infinite love." by David Nantais (teaches philosophy and religious studies at Univ of Detroit Mercy)

Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News.
* Following the lead of our Lord Jesus Christ, let's embrace "those people" today...

LIFE Group nuggets:

* Lorena Myers: "If there is anything I have learned through all my experiences, is that, whatever you need God to do for you - it will be done through the service you provide for others. Our God is a God of love and generosity. He multiplies what we give (money, service and so on)through supporting others, and in that process He meets our needs; which in a way is also the road of dying to selfishness!"

* Kelly Benson shared this quote: "The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. It has sown violence and discord at the heart of the most intimate human relationships. It has aggravated the derogation of the father's role in an increasingly fatherless society. It has portrayed the greatest of gifts--a child--as a competitor, an intrusion and an inconvenience." ~ Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

* Liz Curry shared today's devotion picture...ha!

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

* Kay Castle (struggling with flu)

Faith Quote: "The family is a place where a great effort is frequently required to witness to the Gospel in daily relations. Then at school, at work, in sports, in healthy entertainment, spread everywhere the peace and joy that Jesus gives His friends." by Pope John Paul II

Through Christ our Lord,

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)!