Isaiah 2:3 (Mountain of God)

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

"Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths." ~ Isaiah 2:3 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: While teaching at the Air Force Academy, the times that I received the most peace and clarity in my life was during long weekend runs in the mountains with my best friend Pat. We would talk for hours discussing our spiritual life while jogging through the beautiful woods. While running we would notice many paths winding every-which-way through the trees in the valley. There were even times that we got lost, but we knew that we just had to focus on the higher ground and the mountain would show us the way. At the top of the mountain was when we received the most clarity. We could see where we had been; all of the treacherous terrain we had traveled. This long, difficult journey was necessary in order to stand upon the top of this mountain, the Mountain of God. Lord, I confess from time to time I lose my way, but you are always there to bring me back again. Amen.
* Lyrics from Third Day's "Mountain of God" - the theme of the 2013 National LIFE Runners half/full marathon in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Faith Challenge: Do not be discouraged by the difficult journey through the valleys, because this is a necessary path to the Mountain of God. Take peace in knowing that God is with you all the way.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life,Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed and Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: St. James of the Marches

Faith Quote: "After all that I've been through, now I realize the truth, that I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God." ~ Third Day

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* 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.

LUKE 9:57-58 (Are we up for the challenge?)

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

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." Luke 9: 57-58 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "Jesus might as well said, "Are you ready to follow me even though I have no home? Are you ready to follow me even though I have nothing, least of all the kinds of security the world offers? Are you ready to be homeless and insecure in ways you can't begin to imagine right now?" Lord Jesus, help me to depend only on you, no matter what happens." by Mitch Finley

Steve's Thoughts: This verse hit the mark with me as I consider my own personal situation. My family is living in a rectory in Fergus Falls, MN while we await the sale of our home in Sioux Falls. Most of our creature comforts are still in Sioux Falls - we have no TV or computer to gnaw away at our family time and it has been a blessing. God has given my family the gift of time together! We have filled our time with prayer, games, homework and conversation. We have learned to depend on God for each day as we don't know when our home will sell or when we will find ourselves in our own space. God has placed us at the seat of mercy and provided for all our needs since moving to Fergus Falls. Dear Jesus, thank you for gently teaching my family to depend on you only this day.

Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>235 ProLife Christians).

* NEW: Give up one creature comfort this day and put in it's place some time with Jesus i.e. prayer, spiritual reading, scripture reading, etc.

Pro-Life News: The LIFE Runners (Dave, Jason, Doug, Rich, John, Jim, Steve, Pat, Tammy, Brenda/Aaron/Trevor) will be running the Twin-Cities Marathon (26.2 miles) on Respect Life Sunday (October 4th) to raise money for an ultrasound for A Woman's Answer Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. Please consider sponsoring our team by donating $/mile. Please make checks payable to "Knights of Columbus" and mail them to PO Box 14044, Gainesville, FL 32604.

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. Jerome (420) - Jerome was a strong, outspoken man. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being a fearless critic and all the usual moral problems of a man. He was, as someone has said, no admirer of moderation whether in virtue or against evil. He was swift to anger, but also swift to feel remorse, even more severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others.

Faith Quote: A pope is said to have remarked, on seeing a picture of St. Jerome striking his breast with a stone, "You do well to carry that stone, for without it the Church would never have canonized you."

In Christ,
Steve
Romans 12:2

* 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).