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. 3:17She stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and annointed them with the ointment. Luke 7:38 (full readings)
Living Faith snippets: "Without the physical evidence [the cross], she experienced Jesus' love and mercy, and her life was changed. Every stain of sin, all guilt and shame, all fear and sense of unworthiness, were wiped away, and she was filled with love and gratitude." by Leo Zanchettin
Rich's comments: The great love that the woman showed towards Jesus was a sign that her sins had been forgiven by Him. Our sins imprison us and keep us from showing love towards others. We need to first open our hearts to receive God's love and mercy before we can share this love and mercy with others. You cannot give what you have not received. Lord, allow our hearts to be open to receive the fullness of Your love and mercy so that we may share them with others. Amen.
Faith Challenge: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>220 ProLife Christians).
* NEW: Are you receiving the fullness of God's love and mercy? Have faith and confess your sins today. Allow yourself to be a conduit of God's love and mercy for others.
* 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), 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).
* NEW: Pat Castle (special intention for my cousin Michael, thanksgiving for Kara Livingston pregnancy)
Feast Day: St. Robert Bellarmine
Faith Quote: "God is not solitude, but perfect communion. For this reason the human person, the image of God, realizes himself or herself in love, which is a sincere gift of self." - Pope Benedict XVI
Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22
* 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).
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