Mark 12:17 (what belongs to God?)

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

Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. Mark 12:17 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Jesus, turns to the issue of "what belongs to God." Much more important than mere taxation, this is the heart of the matter of our allegiance. Seek the Kingdom [of God] first, and all these other issues will be resolved as well. Lord, help us to give up trying to justify ourselves and instead surrender our hearts to you." by Mark Neilsen

Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News.
* NEW: We know that everything belongs to God...life is a gift from God...let's strive to act like we truly believe this.

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 in footnote below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, addictions, Matt Kayser (classmate Lt Rosslyn Schulte was killed), Carla Neal (Dan, Denise, Ruth & Julie), Sue Peters (Wendi Kotlinsky cancer treatment)

* NEW: Carol Nesbitt (my cousin Rob Mischel with inoperable brain cancer, two young children, and wife who passed away from cancer)

Feast Day: St. Peter and St. Marcellinus (martyrs)

Faith Quote: My oldest brother Joe directs a homeless shelter in Bloomington, IN. When he is asked how much to give to the poor, he likes to quote Mother Teresa, "give until it hurts." The full context of her quote..."This is the meaning of true love, to give until it hurts."

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)!