Luke 7:34 (Dining with Outcasts)

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

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, "Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Luke 7:34. (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Years ago while attending a company dinner, several of us began to communicate with a favorite coworker when he was mistakenly seated with someone we considered dull instead of with us. We were quickly jolted out of our smug attitude when he smiled and quickly assured us that he was just fine with the seating arrangement....It is tempting to believe that others see things exactly the way we do, and we might even assume we know whom Jesus would hang around with and whom he would exclude." by Terri Mifek

Steve's Thoughts: This passage reminds me of one of my all time favorite country songs, "What if Jesus comes back like that?" by Colin Raye. The song talks about seeing Christ in the least and troubled and has always challenged me to see Christ outside of the box i.e. homeless man, baby hooked on crack, etc. The song goes on to say, "When it gets a little hard to care, think about HIM hanging there."

* Lorena Myers shared a reflection on Judges 9:8-9 (Passing the Buckthorn). "When those called to lead refuse God's call, people get stuck with bad leaders. For every bad leader, three people may have refused God's call to lead (see Jgs 9:9-13). For every buckthorn, an olive tree, fig tree, and vine may have refused to make the sacrifices necessary to answer God's call."

Faith Challenge:

* NEW members include Dana Hlebichuk, Lisa Olson, and Denise Hayden...welcome! Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>220 ProLife Christians).

* NEW: Give thanks today for all God's Graces in your life - write them down and put them in your bible. Let God multiply those graces by giving of your treasure to someone in need today. Don't be an olive tree, fig tree or vine who has refused God's call...

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 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, Peters family (JP in hospital), Lynn Bishara (baby Alex for his endoscopy and biopsies)

* NEW: Kay Castle (Sr. Joann Luke's breast surgery on 22 Sep, Grant Taylor's recovery from medical induced coma), Carol Nesbitt (for Susan/Isaac Anderson whose baby, Megan Marie, died in the womb at 8 months)

Feast Day: Sts. Cornelius (253) and Cyprian (258)

Faith Quote: "You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother.... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body.... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace” - St. Cyprian

In Christ,
Steve
Romans 12:2

* 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 a 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 (Matt 28:19).