Isaiah 65:17 ("too beautiful to be coincidence"!)

Let's welcome God today with this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (archive, Facebook), based on Living Faith. Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. James 1:22

Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. Isaiah 65:17 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Isaiah is painting a love that has grown so immense that it can create life, hope and a future even in the midst of mistakes, sin, and death. This compassion is so divine that it straightens bent limbs, raises dead bodies and spirits, and transforms the dull and callous of heart." by Sr. Kathryn James Hermes

Pat nuggets: Today's Bible verse reminded me of The Passion of the Christ movie scene when Mary goes to Jesus when He is carrying the cross. Christ says, "See Mother, I make all things new." This was one of the most powerful parts of the movie...here is the 2 min scene.

* Joe Hourigan shared this on the Facebook page: "The Stations of the Cross are beautiful, and they bring tears to my eyes. The last hours of Christ's life on earth. Love endures all things. I see my Lords obedience as I go through the Stations with Him. How obedient am I to the Fathers will? I think of Mary's pain, and I imagine watching my own child be crucified, and I think... whose pain was worse? We can all learn much about humility and perseverance, and how our lives are so incredibly miraculous, because of the love of God. His resurrection from the dead is made more glorious by what He endured, for love of each one of us."

* Zek Kazanci (in Adana, Turkey) shared last week: "There was a great conference in our campus hall with Neil Armstrong, James Lovell and Eugene Cernan. Cernan was asked "what did you think when you saw the earth from space"...and he said, "I thought it was too beautiful to be coincidence"." How about the timing of this nugget with today's Bible verse? Coincidence? I think not!

* On 12 Sep 2010, the LIFE Runners are doing the Sioux Falls Half/Full Marathon...for ProLife! If you are interested, I will gladly add you to the team email list.

* Aaron Ferrie shared this link to the top Christian songs, KLOVE, where you can also listen to their radio station online. "What Faith Can Do" (by Kutless) is a moving song...check out this music video with inspiring images.

* Sr. Francelle's devotion: Our Lady of Lourdes.

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by fwding a devotion or using the Facebook "invite people to join" link.
* NEW: Consider watching The Passion of the Christ movie before Easter.

* NEW: Lauren Shannon is doing a college assignment on these questions: Who is God? Who am I? What am I to do? Your comments on the Facebook page will help Lauren and can be appreciated by many.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death in America (23% of pregnancies). Let's courageously share ProLife Truth to expose abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) free!
* NEW: Consider giving an hour of prayer in front of your local abortuary in support of 40 Days for Life (until 28 March, 2009 results video).

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Peters family (JP). Prayer to end abortion. Kay Castle (special intentions)

* NEW: Chad Livingston shared this traditional Jewish healing prayer, "...heal us oh Lord and we will be healed. Save us and we will be saved. For You are our praise. Cause complete healing to arise for all our ailments. For You are God, King, Healer, faithful and compassionate. Blessed are you Lord, healer of the sick of His people…”

Faith Quote: "Let it be love that builds bridges between us and encourages us. Let love for each other and love for the Truth be the answer to present difficulties and questions." John Paul II

Our Lenten Journey continues,
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).