Luke 15:2 (called to His supper)

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

This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. Luke 15:2 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Jesus welcomes us to his Church just as we are and invites us to dine with him at the eucharistic table. When we do, we come into real and pure communion with him and receive his mercy, healing and forgiveness." by Steve Givens

Rich's comments: Growing up, my parents and I never ate dinner at the table. Sadly enough we spent many of our dinners behind individual trays watching TV. I am happy that my wife has made every effort for us to eat at the dinner table. At the dinner table, we not only share our food, but we share our lives as we talk together, laugh, and share stories with one another. Eating dinner together at the table tells us that we belong and are loved. Jesus invites us to His table, because He wants us to know that we belong and are loved. Happy are those who are called to His supper. Amen.

Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (~250 of God's children).

* NEW: Invite someone to church this Sunday and let them feel welcome.

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!
* Abortions Still Alive In Obama-Care...take action and let your voice be heard before it's too late!

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), Joe Hourigan (for brother Mike), Doug Young (special intention), Beth O'Connor (Shannon Bohannon-recovering from brain surgery; Dennis O'Connor - hospitalized with pneumonia & suffering from congestive heart failure; Aurora White - broken leg; father-in-law - poor health; Aunt Linda DePalma - breast cancer).

* NEW: Natalie Cornell (brother-in-law had kidney & gall bladder removed)

Faith Quote: "A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." - Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby, advice columnist)

Through Christ our Lord,

Rich

James 1:22

* 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).

Luke 9:49 (those not in our own club)

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

Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company. Luke 9:49 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "I need to hear Jesus say, "whoever is not against you is for you," and to recognize that good can come from everyone, even those not in my own club." by Aileen O'Donoghue

Pastor Don devotion: the light is always green‏

Faith Challenges:
* NEW members include Pat/Laurie Moran and Charles Stewart...welcome! Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>235 ProLife Christians).

* NEW: Let's welcome someone today who is not in our own club.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, 40 Days for Life (began 23 Sep), 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), Pat Castle (for cousin Michael), Stephanie Spader (for peace/healthy pregnancy), Kay Castle (Nancy Wheeler, Sheri Daniels, Sr. Joan Luke), Maureen Rogers (her pain)

Feast Day: St. Wenceslaus

Faith Quote: "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."

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).

Psalm 84:4 (faith and acceptance)

Let's welcome God every 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

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she put her young... Psalm 84:4 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "I often pray for guidance, asking God to put me in the right place to do his will. I ask God to give me opportunities and situations to be of use to him. Sometimes, when his response doesn't match my own sense of timing and purpose, I feel like he's not hearing me. I want God's response, but on my own terms. Only that's not the way it works. Our act of faith is to accept God on his terms and learn to do his work wherever we find ourselves. God, use me where and when you need me most." Steve Givens

Rich's comments: It takes a lot of faith and humility to let go of our own plans and to trust in God's plans for us. Life has many twists and turns that we do not always understand at the present, but if you take some time to reflect on your past you might see where God has touched your life and given you purpose. We only need to have faith and accept that God is with us.

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join us (Mark 16:15)...Rich/Pat will gladly add them to the LIFE Group distro (202 email addresses).

* NEW: Do God's work wherever you find yourselves even if its not on your own terms.

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 (John 14:6) 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, addictions, LIFE Runners TC Marathon (4 Oct), Carla Neal (Sara’s Son and all military in Iraq)

* NEW: Carol's cousin Rob (gravely ill with brain cancer)

Feast Day: St. Peter Chrysologus

Faith Quote: "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. " - Mother Teresa

Through Christ our Lord,

Rich

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, 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 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.