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
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 (full readings)
Living Faith snippets: "When the computer makes a strange noise and the screen goes dark, I may be profoundly distressed, but I know where to go for help...but what if the doctor tells me an unusual spot has appeared on the x-ray of my lung? Or I discover I have been betrayed by a dear and trusted friend? Or that my child has been injured in a terrible car accident? If such things were to happen, where's the help?" by Mark Neilsen
Steve's Thoughts: "I was profoundly saddened by the news of a young mother who died following the birth of her son last Friday (see prayers below). I felt empty. It got me thinking about the role of suffering in our faith journey. This past Sunday I heard a priest speak of the two sides of our faith in our life journey - in our joy and in our suffering. He spoke candidly of how easily we look for our faith to entertain us and bring us joy. There is a certain temptation to "shop around" our faith to find a church that fits our needs, our family, our situation. He spoke of the many church's with profound preaching, enticing programs for every aspect of the family life, and beautiful uplifting music each Sunday. He followed up with a simple question, "Where is the cross?" The gospel of suffering is the least understood and last to be embraced by a Christian yet without it there would be no salvation, no life. It involves the understanding that our true happiness does not lie in this life but in the next. Dear Jesus, teach me to conform my ways to Your ways, my mind to Your truth, and to truly understand that real treasure, real happiness is not obtained in this life but the next.
Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>240 of God's children).
* NEW: If your Church is not what you like volunteer for an area that you feel is lacking - fill the gaps! Get M.A.D - Go Make A Difference...
* 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), Joyce Trunk (friend w/brain cancer), Kathy Castle (Vicki Miller in hospice).
* NEW: Carol Nesbit wrote, "Please add to the prayer list Katie Friedman, the wife of ’96 O’Gorman alum Jon Friedman. Jon is an F-16 pilot, stationed in Italy. His wife Katie gave birth on Friday to a new healthy baby boy, then died three hours later from severe hemorrhaging. They also have a young son who is not quite two years old. The family is devastated by the loss of this wonderful young mother."
Feast Day: St. Hilarion (371)
Faith Quote: "We are called to be hope for the innocent, protection for the defenseless, and a voice for the voiceless…” ~ Fr. Greg Paffel (Our Lady of Victory Church, Fergus Falls, MN)
Through Christ our Lord,
Steve
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).
* 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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