Psalm 100:4-5 (attitude of gratitude!)

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

Give thanks to Him, bless His name; for He is good. Psalm 100:4-5 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "The first step of the Examen [prayer] is to replay the day in your mind and express gratitude for those things that you consider blessings from God, but may have missed while they occurred. The point of placing gratitude at the beginning of the prayer is to stress that God can really be found in all things." David Nantais

Faith Challenge: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>220 ProLife Christians).
* NEW: Our newest member is Kimberly Kleppin Hughes, welcome!

* NEW: During a routine military training exercise last week, a member of the chaplain's office asked me, "what can I pray for?" This was so refreshing. Let's ask someone today if there is something we can pray for...and offer to pray with them on the spot.

Pat nuggets: gratitude for Sr. Francelle!

* On 8 Sept, Sr. Francelle will celebrate her 60th year as a member of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Let's shower her with love and appreciation by sending her emails and/or snail mail between now and 8 Sept: tofrancelle@hotmail.com, Sr. Francelle Clark, c/o Presentation Convent, 1500 North 2nd St., Aberdeen SD 57401

* "The religious life is much like living in a family because it entails love, forgiveness and sacrifice," says Sr. Francelle. "It is a life of discipline, humility, prayer and denial; this is the way Jesus lived in this world." Her latest devotion: "Fear Not!" Mt. 10-31‏.

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), Stephanie Spader (healthy pregnancy), Adrian Hermosillo (sister Angelica battling cancer)

* NEW: A prayer of thanksgiving for Sr. Francelle!

Faith Quote: Saint Augustine said, "When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God." shared by Pastor Don Bird

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 (Matt 28:19).