Leviticus 23:10 (offer our first fruits...)

Let's welcome God this morning by reflecting on this short 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

Bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest. Leviticus 23:10 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "What are the first fruits that I am to bring to God? As soon as this question arose, I thought about my prayer life. If I wait until the end of the day to make my meditation, I bring my weariness and inattentiveness. If, instead, I begin the day with prayer, I offer my first fruits: the freshness of my mind, body and spirit, which allow me to stay more focused and open. The same is true of my relationships." by Sr. Joyce Rupp

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join the LIFE Group (~200 Christians)...our newest member is Kathy McCall, welcome!

* NEW: Let's offer God our "first fruits" today...

LIFE Group nuggets:

* Pastor Don's devotion: more on Free Hugs ("If we label ourselves "Christians"...are we prepared for someone to take us up on it?")

* Sr Francelle's devotion: When the darkness comes ("If any of you may be filled with the "horror of darkness" right now, learn to trust the wisdom of God.")

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!

* NEW: "At least 13 million Chinese children lose their lives to abortion every year, compared with 20 million live births..." article

* NEW: Encouraging article about quarterback Tim Tebow (article).

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, LIFE Runners TC Marathon (4 Oct), Carla Neal (Sara’s Son and all military in Iraq), Carol Nesbitt (cousin Rob gravely ill with brain cancer)

Feast Day: St. Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits)

Faith Quote: "For God so loved the world that He didn't send a committee." unknown

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.