Luke 10:28 (imitating Christ)

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

[Jesus] replied to [a scholar of the law], "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." Luke 10:28 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "For Jesus, life is all that matters. Even here and now we can't truly live unless we imitate the Good Samaritan's compassionate service to others. Lord Jesus, help me to act with compassion towards all." Mitch Finley

Pat nuggets: The LIFE Runners were all blessed to finish the TC Marathon on Respect Life Sunday (4 Oct), raising ProLife awareness with our "Remember the Unborn" jerseys...and raising $ for a crisis pregnancy center ultrasound machine. Thank you for supporting us. Today's image has some of the TC Marathon LIFE Runners. Let me know if you would like to join us next year for the first annual Sioux Falls Marathon...for ProLife!

Pastor Don's devotion: faith lessons from a squirrel

Faith Challenges:
* NEW members include Fr. Jonathan St. Andre and Deacon Al Schwindt...welcome! Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>240 of God's children).
* NEW: Let's schedule even just one hour for prayer at a local abortion mill (foot of the cross) in unified support for ProLife with the 40 Days for Life campaign (began 23 Sep). 'Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die' (Prov 24:11).

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 (for son Alex), Stephanie Spader (for pregnancy)

Faith Quote: "Prayer is a gift of grace and a determined response on our part."

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 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).