Matthew 24:42 (live your faith today)

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

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "If I am deliberately conscious of how I am living and responding, I will be ready for when my life ends. Each day provides countless opportunities to grow in virtue. There are endless situations for welcoming Christ in others. There are continual reminders to live gratefully. There are untold possibilities for responding to God's grace. If I am attentive and alert to these matters, then I need not live with fear or concern about the timing of my death." by Sr. Joyce Rupp

Rich's comments: This weekend my church is having a Time and Talent Festival in which the parishioners will be presented with many opportunities to share their time and talent that God has given them. Many will volunteer for different ministries that will serve the church and surrounding community, and others will ignore the call to serve. It is easy to put things off to the future when we feel we will have more money to give or time to serve. It is easy to become complacent and comfortable with business as usual without adding any new challenges to our life that might deepen our faith. Turn off the cruise control and start living your faith today.

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join our LIFE Group (>215 Christians).
* NEW: Be receptive to the opportunities to live out your faith today.

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, Rich Reich (friend Carolyn battling cancer), Peters family (JP in hospital), Stephanie Spader (healthy pregnancy), Steve/Tina Castle (sell their home).

Feast Day: St. Monica (the mother of St. Augustine).

Faith Quote: "Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. " - St. Augustine

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.

John 5:39-40 (come to Jesus to seek life)

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. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 3:17

You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them...But you do not want to come to me to have life. John 5:39-40

Living Faith snippets: "Coming to Jesus for "life" suggests something even deeper. It means we are utterly open to being transformed and changed by the words we read. It means we believe Jesus is the Word made flesh. Our desire is to be totally transformed by the Word. Coming to Jesus for life involves climbing out of our comfort zones to the point of being willing to die to live." by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

Rich's comments: We as humans are creatures of habit. I am not saying that going to Church, reading scripture, hearing the Gospel, serving others are not good habits. I am just saying to be careful not to become rigid with your Faith. Be careful not to do these things out of habit, or they will lose all meaning. Attend Church not because you feel you have to, but because you seek to worship Jesus. Read scripture and hear the Word of God, because you want to hear the teachings of Jesus so that you may follow His way. Serve those in need, because you want to serve Jesus. Find Jesus in the things that you do, and you will find life.

Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News. Suggestions?

* NEW: Evaluate the things that you do in your Faith. Do you know why you do them, or have they lost all meaning?

Culture of Life (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 share ProLife Truth (John 14:6)...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16)!

* NOW (25 Feb-5 Apr): Support the 40 Days for Life campaign by praying by an abortion mill for one hour (Matt 26:40)...let's defend the voiceless unborn!

Pro-Life Conference tidbits: We have established that abortion is discrimination and pro-abortionists discriminate against the unborn, but is it possible that pro-lifers also discriminate against the unborn? If we heard that 3,600 innocent people were about to be killed in our town, would our hearts not move us to do everything in our power to try to stop it. It is easy to be pro-life, but it is much more difficult to be actively pro-life. We as pro-lifers need to display urgency and concern for the severity of abortion. Do not show complacency. Another 3,600 unborn babies are going to die today. What are you going to do?

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together. Fasting ideas below.

* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, jobs, Paul Cote (sister Christine with cancer), Sharmane Calvin (Dr. Earl passed away/his family), Kathy Castle (16 cars pulled into Planned Parenthood with young girls), Carla Neal (Katelyn, Mollie, Pam Bert, Edna, Maureen, Cathy, Robin and their families)

Faith Quote: "I believe in person to person. Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment." - 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.

Let's joyfully invite others to join our LIFE Group...Rich or Pat will gladly add them to the devotions distribution list (Mark 16:15)!

Luke 4:36 Spiritual Warfare

* Welcome God every morning before 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

What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out. Luke 4:36

Living Faith snippets: "Fighting evil of any kind is one of the hardest challenges we face in life. But facing it alone is desperate and impossible. Thankfully, as Christians we are never alone, for we are people of the Word. It alone commands all else and frees our hearts and minds from evil." by Steve Givens

Rich's comments: It is difficult for many to realize that even today we live amongst a spiritual battlefield filled with good and evil spirits. Scripture states that Satan and his evil spirits want to destroy us by weakening our body, soul, and spirit. We need to protect ourselves by putting on all of God's armor and use "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17) C.S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, provides a series of lessons in the importance of taking a deliberate role in living out Christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, as seen from the demon/devil's viewpoint. Despite the fictional storyline, this book will provide you with an eye-opening awareness that demons do exist and do interfere with our lives. One of the evil strategies of the devil is to make us not believe in evil so that we become complacent and not prepared for battle. Take arms Christian soldiers, use the Word of God!

ProLife news: http://www.lifenews.com/.
* 40 Days for Life campaign (24 Sep to 2 Nov): Sign up for updates at http://www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm.

Our Prayers: Abortion, chastity, our enemies/our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer, prisoners, integrity of our leaders, Robert Cox (discerning his career path)

Faith Quote: “The Devil fears the word of God, He can't bite it; it breaks his teeth.” by Martin Luther

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 live as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa. Prayer to End Abortion. Ask Blessed Margaret of Castello for her prayers to end abortion.

* 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)!

Matt 24:42 (stay awake, stay hungry)

* Welcome God every morning before 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

Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Matt 24:42

Living Faith snippets: "I think I need to be challenged to be awake not only for serious danger but also for joy, to be alert for beauty, for kindness, for God's humor in unexpected turn of events. "Wake up for the inbreaking of grace," I need to be warned. "At an hour you do not expect the son of Man is coming in an amazing moment of love!" Lord, don't let me miss you coming! by Patricia Livingston

Rich's comments: I believe that if we are not careful, we can become complacent in our relationship with God. We can become comfortable with where we are in our spiritual journey and stop growing. We need to awaken with hunger for the Lord. We need to remember the excitement of our heart's first conversion; the new found love that drove us to learn as much as we could about our God. Lord, I am sorry for my spiritual complacency. May Your Holy Spirit renew the hunger for You in my heart. Amen.

ProLife news: http://www.lifenews.com/. 40 Days for Life campaign (24 Sep to 2 Nov): Sign up for updates at http://www.40daysforlife.com/about.cfm.

Feast Day (St. Augustine): The life of Saint Augustine is a fascinating story of conversion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo

Our Prayers: Abortion, chastity, our enemies/our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer, prisoners, integrity of our leaders

Faith Quote: "I have learnt to love you late, Beauty at once so ancient and so new!" by Saint Augustine

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 live as you wish' Blessed Mother Teresa. Prayer to End Abortion. Ask Blessed Margaret of Castello for her prayers to end abortion.
* 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)!