Psalm 105:18 (Severing Our Shackles)

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

They had weighed him down with fetters, and he was bound with chains... Psalm 105:18 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "The shackles and chains that held Joseph captive when he was enslaved are symbolic of whatever keeps us unfree. What might those shackles be?...Whatever keeps us from being at peace and from accessing our innate goodness - this is what chains us and holds us captive. Lent focuses on breaking these shackles, on freeing us to be people of deep and lasting love." by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

Steve's Thoughts: We all have sin in our life...Paul tells us in the book of Romans, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23). We all have chains. The good news is that God has intended for us to live in freedom. Lent is that time of self-denial through acts of prayer, fasting, and alms giving that remind us of our intense need for God in our lives. Life is so fragile and I often take for granted what a gift this short time I have been given. My hunger pains, and other grumblings of my flesh are a sign to me of my dependence on things outside of myself - the air I breath, the food I eat, the shelter over my head. I am reminded in those moments that I need God even more than I need the food my stomach is clamoring for. It is in this way that we place ourselves in small ways at the foot of the cross this Lenten season.

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: From Suffering to Surrender

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by fwding a devotion or using the Facebook "invite people to join" link.
* NEW: How are you reminded of your need for God? Consider commenting on the Facebook page.

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: 40 Days for Life (until 28 March, 188 babies saved so far), "Remember that this is Spiritual Warfare"

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Peters family (JP). Prayer to end abortion.
* NEW: Vicki Kerkvliet (mother's heart problem)

Feast Day: St. John Joseph of the Cross, "Self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity—as the life of Saint John Joseph shows..."

Faith Quote: "Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them." St. Francis De Sales

Through Christ our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:12

* 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).