John 15:5 (Holy love-triangle)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (full readings)

Pat's Reflections: This past weekend on Engaged Encounter, my wife Angi and I spoke about the necessity of face to face communication and staying tethered to God ("the vine") in marriage. With body language being so important for interpreting intentions, making time for face to face communication is still needed in this modern age of quick communications (email, text). Good face to face communication takes service/sacrifice (love), which brings husband and wife closer together and in turn closer to God...a holy love-triangle (today's image). God is love by definition (1 John 4:16-19). "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). We can't give what we have not received. As we grow closer to God, we fill our love bank to serve our spouse, allowing us to have a 60/40 relationship...both spouses want to give at least 60% and don't expect more than 40%. With a nearly 60% divorce rate, this service/sacrifice (love) approach will ensure you beat these dark odds. As couples grow closer to God through service/sacrifice, they also grow closer to each other (today's image)...unified for Pro-Life!

Faith Challenge: “The best marriage insurance is holding your spouse for 10 minutes and kissing for 10 seconds...every day." Ken/Loretta Weber (married 55 yrs)

Counter-Culture News: LifeNews, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action
* Omaha Archdiocese (20 May): Runners group fighting abortion.&gt

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now. >

Feast Day: St. Gregory VII.

Faith Quote: "Our society and the church desperately needs the witness of loving couples who make a total and permanent marriage commitment." ~ Bishop Paul Dudley (Sioux Falls, 1994)

Through Christ Our Lord,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize:Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

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