Jeremiah 31:33 (Written Upon Our Hearts)

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

I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (full readings)

Rich's thoughts: If you know of anyone who is doubting the existence of God, I highly recommend that they read C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. Please have the courage to approach them and place this book in their hands. C.S. Lewis takes the reader through a very logical thought process starting with the idea that everyone (even atheists) have an awareness within them of Right and Wrong. God has left His mark on our hearts, and despite whether or not we believe in God; God believes in us. Lord, give me the courage to reveal God's message to others. Amen.

Sr. Francelle's devotion: Why Worry?

Faith Challenge: Have the courage to approach a friend today who may not believe in God and share with them what God has written on their hearts.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life.
* Pro-Life Television Show Wins Emmy Award

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. Peters family (JP, special intention), Rich Reich (Cousin Tom's chemotherapy), Liz Curry (Darleen Deans stroke recovery), Lynn Bishara (Aunt Marilyn with leukemia)
* Pray for the faithless that they may listen to God.

Feast Day: The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major

Faith Quote: "The Law of Human Nature, or of Right and Wrong, must be something above and beyond the actual facts of human behavior, and yet quite definitely real - a real law, which none of us made, but which we find pressing on us." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

Revelations 3:19 (love is being able to say 'no')

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

Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Revelations 3:19

Living Faith snippets: "God says "no" to us sometimes and wants us to make good choices. God doesn't ask for perfection but does expect our very best effort and, when we fail, our repentance. God does not wait for us to make mistakes so he can punish us. He offers guidance and an invitation to forgiveness because we are loved." by Steve Givens

Rich's comments: Do you include God in your life decisions? Do you pray and discern with God's help? Sometimes people do not include God, because they know that the answer to their question will be "no", or against their worldly desires. They can hear it in their well-formed consciences, the guidance that God is whispering to them in their hearts. Lord, may we include you in our decisions, listen patiently for Your response, and obey Your loving guidance. Amen.

ProLife news: http://www.lifesitenews.com/

Our Prayers: Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, Joe Castle (medical concern), Joe Hourigan (special intention), Pam McGushin (family of six yr old William Hopkins), Mary Ellen Seibert (college daughter Paige has tough virus), Lynn Bishara (aunt Mary with ovarian cancer), Stephanie Spader (babies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome)

* Gina (her friend Renee Strohm was recently diagnosed with a massive brain tumor (non-cancerous) and will be having surgery tomorrow (Wed, 19 Nov). Please pray for her and her family that the surgery goes well and she has a speedy recovery.

Faith Quote: "There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" by C.S. Lewis

Feast Day: St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (http://saints.sqpn.com/saintr20.htm)

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.'
* Fasting: Let's fast from things that takes our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, 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 lie 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 live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Titus 2:1 (educated conscience)

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

You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine... Titus 2:1

Living Faith snippets: "Today we hear so many views and opinions on various religious topics that it can be puzzling to know what is sound doctrine. I'm glad we have outstanding theologians who have dedicated their lives to prayerful scholarship and present their insights to a faith-hungry world. They do not think for us, but enable us to think more clearly." by Fr. James McKarns

Rich's comments: The elections this year revealed some inconsistencies with sound doctrine. One noteable example was when Nancy Pelosi was asked by Tom Brokaw "When does life begin?", and she answered "I would say that as an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition," she claimed. At least Tom Brokaw did his homework and responded, "The Catholic Church has a very clear moral and scientific definition that life begins at the point of conception." It scares me how easily people can be swayed from the Truth by the media, especially those who have not fulfilled their moral obligation as Christians to educate their consciences with sound doctrine. Lord, may Your Holy Spirit guide us to the Truth and trust those who have dedicated their lives to prayerful scholarship. Amen.

ProLife news: http://www.lifesitenews.com/

Our Prayers: Prayer to End Abortion, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, for President-elect Obama, Joe Castle (medical concern).
* Let's pray that We The People of America (the beacon on the hill) will shine Christ's Light and build a culture of Life. Let's pray for courage to build relationships and talk about ProLife.

Feast Day (St. Martin of Tours):

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=81

Faith Quote: "To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly." by Benjamin Franklin

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.'

* Fasting: Let's fast from things that takes our eyes off Jesus (selfishness, bitterness, being so critical, impatience, judgment, 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 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)!