Galatians 2:2 ("hey Dad, Phil 4:13!")

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (archive, Facebook).

I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles–but privately to those of repute–so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. Galatians 2:2 (full readings)

Pat's Reflections:

* My dear wife Angi and I were blessed to race the Lewis & Clark half/full Marathon on Respect Life Sunday (St. Charles, MO). Lewis & Clark explored so citizens had freedom to live further west...we ran so Unborn citizens have the freedom to simply live! The LIFE Runners jersey, "REMEMBER The Unborn, Jer 1:5", gave voice to the voiceless Unborn who are not safe under the Silent Holocaust of abortion. We didn't "run in vain"...

* While waiting to cheer Angi to the finish line of the full marathon, daughter Grace brought me a leaf with a Monarch butterfly. The butterfly sat on my finger for about a minute and then flew gracefully away. The butterfly symbolizes metanoia (change of heart)...a great symbol of hope for our ProLife mission. In yesterday's devotion Rob challenged us to pray that abortionists have a metanoia. Let's also pray that we have a deeper metanoia for Christ's divine mercy, inspiring greater love/sacrifice for standing against the Silent Holocaust.

* Just a few miles from the finish line, Angi slowed to encourage a man who was getting sick..."do you need help? try to keep walking." After Angi told us her personal best finishing time (4:13:01), daughter Paige said, "hey Dad, Phil 4:13!"...possible because Angi slowed to present the Gospel. While running to the finish line, Angi raised her hand to God and shouted, "for the babies!"

* Need a Spiritual pick me up? Light Up the Sky song: "So I run straight into Your arms...Your love is rushing in!"

Faith Challenge: To support 40 Days for Life (ends 31 Oct), spend an hour of prayer in front of your local abortuary...presenting the Gospel. "Preach the gospel at all times...if necessary, use words." St. Francis of Assisi

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action.

* One Year Ago Today - The Miracle of Abby Johnson's Conversion. This article posted yesterday...check out yesterday's devotion by Rob Rysavy. Coincidence?, I think not!

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. Peters family (JP), Rich Reich (cousin Tom cancer), Leslee Unruh (grandbaby Pierce recovering from brain surgery & pneumonia), Rob Rysavy (AF Academy roommate Nick having back surgery)

* Beth Hughes (nephew died in swimming accident), Carol Nesbitt (special intention), Carolyn McKissack (daughter's health)

Feast Day: St. Bruno

Faith Quote: “In the cross of Jesus, the measure of Love is Love without measure.” St. John of the Cross

Through Christ our Lord,

Pat

Phil 4:13

John 3:8 ("wind and Spirit")

Let's welcome God today with this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (archive, Facebook), based on Living Faith. Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. James 1:22

The wind blows where it wills...; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "The Greek word "pneuma" means both "wind" and "spirit." John, no doubt, was using this double meaning." by Heather Wilson

Pat nuggets:

* Angi and me ran the St. Louis marathon yesterday, and the wind (Spirit) certainly blew in our favor. I just made it under 3 hrs (2:59:41) because of inspiration from two unique experiences. At mile 6, I was sprinkled with holy water by a joy-filled priest. He was off to the side, blessing those who ran over to him. During mile 22, I was fading and started to figure I wouldn't break 3 hours. At mile 23, I passed by the giant Planned Parenthood abortuary and took on extra suffering (picked up the pace) as a prayer for the unborn (and their parents). Angi ran the entire race with our neighbor...to help our neighbor finish her first marathon. Angi ran her best time...in giving we do receive. In 3 weeks I will pace my friend Fr. Jonathan for the Pittsburgh Marathon. He introduced me to his term for one of our faith practices...“redemptive running”, which is praying for others in the midst of running challenges. Our marathon will be a mini-retreat...may the wind be at our backs!

* As yesterday was Divine Mercy Sunday, Stephanie Kemp shared the following (paraphrased from Bishop Sheridan, Colorado Springs). "The greatest attribute of God is His Mercy, and we should never despair of it. Also, our secular culture teaches that everything is permitted and nothing needs forgiveness." Let's thank God for His Mercy!

Faith Challenge: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by forwarding devotions or using the Facebook "invite people" link.
* NEW: Today's image is the St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD. How can we treat our homes like a Cathedral (see Faith Quote below)? Consider sharing your devotion thoughts on the Facebook page, to be appreciated by many.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death in America (23% of pregnancies)...courageously share ProLife Truth to expose abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) free.

* NEW: 1,800 Carry Cross of Abortion on Good Friday at Minn. Planned Parenthood

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Peters family (JP), Prayer to end abortion, Stephanie Kemp (special intention), Helene Couchon (healing)

* NEW: Joe Levisky, "I want to thank all of you who included my daughter's difficult pregnancy in their prayers. She successfully (cesarean section) delivered Lily. Unfortunately, Lily has severe problems, and my daughter is experiencing severe post-partum depression. With the power of prayer we brought her through once, so I'm asking you to include my daughter and Lily in your prayers to get them through."

* NEW: Christy Hubka (Fr. Mel Thompsen's health), Brenda Alvine (God's protection for her family)

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Faith Quote: Last night, we went to Mass at the Cathedral in Belleville, IL. This quote was on the bulletin cover. "You enter this Cathedral...not as a stranger, but as a quest of God. Come, then, with joy in your heart and thanks on your lips. Be grateful for the strong and faithful ones who built this place of worship, and to all who have beautified and hallowed it by their prayer and praise. Offer your prayers and thanks here...adore Christ's Real Presence...honor the saints. Rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit, that the Lord's blessing may rest on you, on both your coming in and your going out."

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, 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).

John 21:6 (The Eighth Day)

Let's welcome God today with this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (archive, Facebook), based on Living Faith. Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. James 1:22

So he said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." John 21:6 (full readings)

Steve's Thoughts:

* Regarding today's verse, I wonder what Peter thought when Jesus said this to them? Peter was a seasoned fisherman and new the sea well. Yet when he obeyed the risen Lord's command his nets were overflowing! I think back on the times when I have attempted something of my own accord only to see it fizzle and die away. When God blesses something, it will flourish to abundance or in this case to the point where they can't even haul in the nets. God will multiply our works if we humbly give them to him. He will straighten our paths, and clear away the rocky rubble.

* This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday or the Feast of Mercy as declared by Pope John Paul II for the whole world. Read more about this beautiful devotion in Sr. Francelle's devotion (below).

* Fr. Greg Paffel (Church of Our Lady of Victory, Fergus Falls, MN) talked about the "eighth day"; as Children of the Resurrection we live in this eighth day. God never talked about the seventh day ending, but we find that conclusion in Jesus' words on the cross as he gave up his spirit, "It is finished."

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Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Jesus, Have Mercy On Us. Here is a snippet..."There is a story about a teacher who gave each of her little students an empty plastic Easter egg and asked each to fill it with something about Easter. As each child opened their egg to show it to the others - one had a flower inside to signify new life, another had a nail because they nailed Jesus to a tree, another had a small stone because of the stone put in front of the tomb. But the last egg was opened by a little mentally challenged boy, whose egg had nothing inside. The teacher asked what this meant and he replied that the tomb was empty on Easter morning, which means that Jesus is God and He did raise Himself from the dead! A little child had grasped the meaning of the empty tomb! The riches of our faith depend on that empty tomb."

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by forwarding devotions or using the Facebook "invite people" link.
* NEW: Have you ever toiled at something to no avail, only to try again and see it flourish? Consider sharing the miracle of God's timing on the Facebook page, to be appreciated by many.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, American Family Association, Priests for Life
* Never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death in America (23% of pregnancies)...courageously share ProLife Truth to expose abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) free.

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Peters family (JP), Prayer to end abortion, Stephanie Kemp (special intention), Helene Couchon (healing)

Faith Quote: "Mercy is getting what you don't deserve." ~ Sr. Francelle Clarke

Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
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, 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).