Psalm 68:20 (finding God in the ordinary...)

Let's welcome God today 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

Blessed day by day be the Lord, who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation. Psalm 68:20 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "While on my first retreat, the retreat leader asked us to recall the moments in our life when we felt most loved. As wonderful and awe-inspiring as mystical experiences of the Divine might be, I have learned that it is the ability to recognize God's presence in the ordinary moments of life that carry us through. Lord, help us recognize the many ways you come to us each day." by Terri Mifek

Pat nuggets:

* Let's leverage Facebook as a Faithbook. Please join our Facebook LIFE Group page, where we will post the devotions for Living In Faith Exchange comments. Almost 200 of the devotion photos are in the Facebook LIFE Group Photos tab, for us to review and comment.

* In support of 40 Days for Life (until 1 Nov), prayed a sorrowful rosary with my family outside the St. Louis abortion mill on Sat morning (today's photo). It was very busy on both sides of the fence (spiritual warfare). Paige (9) said, "I don't get why they call it Planned Parenthood, sounds like they should be helping babies." Later that day, Grace (6) came into my office holding up a ProLife sign and joyfully shouted, "Let's save some babies, Dad!" Let's pray fervently to end the abortion holocaust...for the unborn and the injured parents, prayer to end abortion.

* On the Planned Parenthood website, I found a disturbing note from an employee...read it closely (perversion of Truth): "Today a patient said something in response to the protesters and their signs that made me pause. She said, "I would never protest at their church, never." [moral relativism] I’ve never considered Planned Parenthood to be my “church,” but it does stand for very important rights and values that provide my being with hope [despair], happiness [pain], and faith [in what?]."

Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (~ 250 of God's children).
* NEW: Consider attending a faith retreat (marriage encounter, Crusillo, Koinonia, Search, TEC, others?).

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, 40 Days for Life (until 1 Nov), 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)

Faith Quote: "Faith is a verb."

In God We Trust,

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, pornography, bitterness, criticalness, 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).