Psalm 32:1 ("Be like...")

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

Happy is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "...preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time...he paced nervously back and forth awaiting his turn. What a relief to see his beaming face when he reentered the body of the church. He shared with us later that, as he poured his heart out in Confession, he felt completely embraced by a loving God. That experience also made possible a breakthrough: Knowing himself so welcomed by God opened this man's heart to love and to forgive himself as well." by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer

Pat nuggets:

* Today's devotion picture is our daughter Paige (9) praying at St. Mary's church in Alton, IL on 10 Oct. Paige asked Fr. Chris if it would be ok to pray at the tabernacle. [I met Fr. Chris the weekend prior at the St. Louis airport when I was heading to the TC Marathon (for ProLife).] Paige's role model is Blessed Mother Teresa, ever since we watched a movie about her. Paige wrote me a note that said, "Be like Mother Teresa"...I have it posted in my home office (aka man cave). Let's encourage our children to consider all vocations and to listen for God's call.

* It is perplexing that the proposed federal healthcare bill would fund abortions...completely counter to healthcare's sacred Hippocratic Oath that promises to "keep them from harm and injustice." 'It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish' (Blessed Mother Teresa).

Sr. Francelle's devotion: Family "One of the highlights was...when nephews took me down to the abortion clinic, where we prayed the rosary. They were busy, as 14 women went inside - we don't know whether they went through with the abortion or not, but we do know prayers are never wasted or unheard."

Faith Challenges:

* NEW members include Bob Ramsey, Leslee Unruh, Mariah Craycroft, Caroline Metzinger...welcome! Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>245 of God's children).
* NEW: We received a request to send our Compassion International child a Christmas gift...which reminded me of the LIFE Group Christmas challenge from last year. To imitate the real St. Nicholas in giving gifts to the poor and children, consider rallying your extended family to pool the adult Christmas gift funds for a charity (homeless shelter, troubled teens, crisis pregnancy center, counter-culture news sources below, etc). This sacrifice also simplifies Christmas, allowing more time to experience the true meaning and joy of Christmas!

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), Joyce Trunk (friend w/brain cancer)

* NEW: Stephanie Spader (20 wk ultrasound "looks perfect"), Kathy Castle (for the repose of the Soul of Vicki Miller...and for her husband Joe and 3 teenage children)

Feast Day: St. Gerard Majella (patron of expectant mothers)

Faith Quotes:

* Kathy Castle shared: "A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation." Psalm 68:5

* Aaron Ferrie shared: "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

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).