Matthew 20: 14 - 15 (God's Love is Unfair)

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

What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? Matthew 20: 14-15 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "The parable of the workers in the vineyard always makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes even mad. I want to say to Jesus, "You mean those who worked only a few minutes in the vineyard get the same wages as those who slaved all day in the hot sun."...Of course it isn't fair. That's the whole point. God's love is essentially unfair. Rather, it is gratuitous, bounteous, magnanimous." by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

Steve's Thoughts: Today's verse made me chuckle as I thought about how radical this verse is in today's culture let alone the "eye-for-an-eye" Jewish culture of the time. I can imagine gasps from the crowd...I also had to chuckle as I contemplated my families impending move to Fergus Falls, MN and our new home on VINE street! God's fingerprints are everywhere. Merciful God, thank you for giving us all many, many chances to choose you in this life, and help me to see you in all things; even those things that challenge my preconcieved notions of fairness and justice with those who deserve it the least. Amen. Merciful God. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join the LIFE Group (>210 Christians).
* NEW: As we gaze upon the cross, let us look past what we deserve and look to what all of us don't deserve - Life in Christ.

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, refugees, addictions, persecuted believers, Rich Reich (friend Carolyn battling cancer), Peters family (JP in hospital), Stephanie Spader (pregnancy concerns), Steve/Tina Castle (sell their home)

Feast Day: St. John Eudes (1670) John Eudes worked as a volunteer, caring for the victims of the plagues that struck Normandy in 1625 and 1631, and spent the next decade giving Missions, building a reputation as an outstanding preacher and confessor and for his opposition to Jansenism.

Faith Quotes:
* "Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it." ~ John Paul II

In Christ,
Steve

Ephesians 6:10-18

* 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