Matthew 5:14 (love that can't be hidden)

Let's welcome God every morning before work by giving a few minutes to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which is based on Living Faith. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "It wasn't so much his skill as an architect that has remained with me. It's the light of love she showed me--not only their love of each other, but also their love of God. No bushel basket covered their lamp. Nor could this mountain city be hidden. Thank God." by Mary Marrocco

Rich's comments: When I experienced my metanoia (change of heart) in 2006 and renewed my faith in Jesus Christ, my wife was very thrilled, but she thought that it was going to be just a passing faze for me. See my wife knows me well. She knows that when something catches my interest, that I become enthusiastically focused on the activity. Then this passion usually dies out over time and the object of obsession is abandoned like the electric guitar sitting in the corner of my house. My love for Jesus though is different. I feel that I am on fire for Jesus. The more that I get to know Him within the Word of God and in prayer, the closer I want to be to Him and His people. Once you are ignited with the love for Jesus, you will find that it is a love that can't be hidden, and must be shared. Holy Spirit, keep my faith burning brightly. Amen.

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

* NEW: Share your love for God with others. Spread the fire of His love.

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, Sue Peters (Wendi Kotlinsky cancer treatment), Carol Nesbitt (cousin Rob Mischel with brain cancer), Carla Neal (Cyndy, Anita & Collin), Jason Peters (his son JP in hospital), Rich Reich (his Dad's has blocked brain artery)

Feast Day: St. Ephrem the Syrian left us hundreds of hymns and poems on the faith that inflamed and inspired the whole Church. Read more about him here.

Faith Quote: "If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." - 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)!