Luke 9:22 (Making Sour Taste Sweet)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”" ~Luke 9:22 (full readings)

Rosemary's Reflections: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." That's the phrase everyone hears when someone's having a rough day. As overused as it may seem, it does bring up a good point--you can't just sit and cry about it because at the end of the day, you're still stuck with a bunch of lemons. But, if you work with a positive attitude to make a change, you'll end up with a better experience. I know how hard it was for me standing out in the rain in front of Planned Parenthood as drivers yelled or honked at me. I did get a few friendly waves and honks as well. But whoever the driver, I kept on a smile and waved to every car as I held my pro-life sign. I thought about the difference I was making in those people's lives by staying positive, whether they agreed with me or not. I wasn't going to speak for the unborn with a frown on my face. Who would listen to me then? Jesus knew He wouldn't have an easy life, but you don't hear Him complaining at home to Mary. Instead, He's out preaching to the crowds and turning His sour suffering into sweet salvation for us. We as Christians are called to lead by example and help others "make lemonade" out of their sorrows--whether it's counseling a woman with an unplanned pregnancy or one who's regretting her abortion. So the next time life hands you some lemons, make some lemonade. Then go out, share it with someone, and help them make some more.

Faith Challenge: Try to smile at everyone you meet to bring them...and you...Joy!

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Heaven.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel. &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. Padre Pio da Pietrelcina (d.1968).

Faith Quote: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~Winston Churchill

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary

2 Timothy 4:7
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* 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 (22% 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.

Matthew 18:20 (Jesus in our midst)

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

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Whenever I write a Living Faith reflection, I imagine you, its readers. Many of you would like to attend daily Mass, but can't, so this is your connection to those Eucharists and those communities. Some of you have busy households, and this is your only quiet break for God to inspire you to love him and your life even more. Some of you live alone, and Living Faith is a daily connection to the vast world of blessings and needs just beyond your door." by Fr. James Krings

Steve's thoughts: This is a verse that I have found tremendous comfort in over the years as it states a very real promise for us believers - Jesus present with us. Let us pray...Come Lord Jesus be our guest. Come Lord Jesus. Amen. I believe. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join the LIFE Group (>200 Christians).
* NEW: The next time you find yourself praying in community with others stop and reflect on Jesus' promise to all believers and the spiritual reality of his presence in our midst.

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, refugees, addictions, persecuted believers, Maureen Rogers (redoing knee replacement on 11 Aug), Rich Reich (friend Carolyn battling cancer), Anonymous (family with unexpected pregnancy), Peters family (JP in hospital)

Feast Day: "St. Michael My. Martyr of Vietnam (1838). He was the mayor of a town in Vietnam when the persecution of Christians started. Michael was martyred with Blessed Anthony Dich, his son-in-law, and with St. James Nam. He was canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

Faith Quote: "Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

In Christ,
Steve
Ephesians 6:10 - 18

* 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.

Psalm 22:26 (the Body of Christ)

Welcome God every morning before your work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (life-devotions.blogspot.com), which has snippets from Living Faith (livingfaith.com). All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

So by your gift I will utter praise in the vast assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him. Psalm 22:26

Living Faith snippets: "The Eucharist is the ultimate participation in something greater than myself, and the fact that it requires participation reminds me that, much as I'd often like to, I can't trod the spiritual path alone." by Heather King

Rich's comments: I know some family and friends who believe that they don't need to go to church anymore. That either they invested enough time in their spiritual development attending paraochial schools during their childhood, or that they believe that they can worship God in the comfort of their own home without going to church. It is true that we can praise our God in Heaven anywhere, but I feel that these people are missing the power of community worship. We need to remember that we are all part of the Body of Christ. For those who believe that they don't need to go to church, try this perspective for a moment; the Church needs you.

* Today is election day. Please let us come together as the Body of Christ and say this novena prayer: www.priestsforlife.org/novenas/election-day-novena.aspx.

Our Prayers: Abortion's end Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer cure, prisoners, leaders integrity, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, Rob (St. Patrick's parish prayer list), Tina Castle (Jason Peter's son).

* NEW: Joe and Anne Hourigan (extremely important intention).

* Lets pray for a change of heart for all Pro-Death candidates. Let's pray for courage to let Christ lead our vote and to publicly talk about ProLife. As part of our election prayer each day, let's fast from something that takes our eyes off of Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, gossip, excessive video games, etc) and/or take on something that fixes our eyes on Jesus (selflessness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, patience, understanding, caring, helping, listening).

* Wed night is pray with your family night...the family that prays together, stays together!

Feast Day of St. Charles Borromeo:

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=212

Faith Quote: "If my church experience is based upon what they are doing for me, and not what I can do, then pass the popcorn and start bringing red vines." by Bridget Willard

Through Christ Our Lord,

Rich

Romans 12:12

* Today's Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml. Reflection on readings at http://www.daily-meditations.org/index2.html

* Prayer: Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others. Wayne Watson lyrics, “When God's people pray, there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven, and miracles you can't explain await!” 'If you pray that God will move a mountain and He doesn’t, assume Christ wants you to climb it instead & see Him.'

* 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 lie as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa.

* Evangelization: Let's make room for non-believers (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.

Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!