Isaiah 53:5-6 (It is Good)

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

"But He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon Him the guilt of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6 (full readings) >0

Steve's Reflections: Why is the most solemn, tragic day in history called "Good Friday"? Wouldn't "Black Friday" be more appropriate? God did for us today what we could not accomplish for ourselves. Just as God said, "It is good" of his creation, so too today he says, "It is good." Jesus poured out all that he had for you and for me, and when it came to his last breath he cried out, "It is finished." Jesus did all the wrong things in the worlds eyes - he washed the feet of the apostles to show them what it meant to truly lead and told them "Love one another as I have loved you." It is good. He waited in the Garden for his dear friend Judas to betray him with a kiss. It is good. He was silent as a lamb before slaughter as Pontius Pilate questioned him. It is good. He took every insult, buffet, lashing under the weight of the wood, the weight of world's sin. All so that we could be with the Father. It is good. Today is a good day. There is no victory, no resurrection without the cross. Our lives our not our own; they were bought at a price; our ransom has been paid! Today is good because today is the day Love conquered over death. It is good. In the words of Matt Maher in the song Alive Again, "O death where is your sting? O hell where is your victory? O Church come stand in the light. The glory of God has defeated the night!"
* Check out this inspiring song by Matt Maher about the greatest act of Love known to man, the cross - No Greater Love. "And we lift high the banner of the cross! There is no greater love than this. No love but this."
* Today's sacred image is by Nellie Edwards (http://www.immaculataart.com/).

Faith Challenge: Make it a good day by attending a Good Friday service. The veneration of the cross is a time to give thanks for all that was accomplished for each of us on the cross. The time from noon to 3 pm is a solemn time to reflect on the passion of Jesus that culminated in his death at 3 pm, the hour of Mercy.

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Jesus Came to Serve "Jesus came into this world to do for us what that father did for his son. He paid the price for our sin by his death on the cross."

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action &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. Adalbert of Prague "Preaching the Good News can be dangerous work whether the audience is already baptized or not. Adalbert fearlessly preached Jesus' gospel and received a martyr's crown for his efforts."

Faith Quote: "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~ John 13:34-35

Through Christ Our Lord,

Steve
Romans 12:2 .

* 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 (23% 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.

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Romans 2:10 (Reflecting God's Goodness)

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

But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. Romans 2:10 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "WHEN I READ THESE words, I immediately thought of my parents. Because of their goodness to me, and to so many others. I have always felt a spontaneous joy in honoring them. And I hope to continue honoring them when we are reunited in heaven. That will be one of heaven's great joys." by Fr. Kenneth Grabner, C.S.C.

Steve's thoughts: The family is the bedrock from which all vocations flow and the homebase of the Church militant (you and I on the front lines). I have been blessed to have a loving and supporting family thoughout my life. I give thanks for the support my parents gave me in my vocational journey from discernment in the seminary to married life and the blossoming of my own "youth ministry". Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of my parents and famiy both present and those who have gone before me in faith.

Faith Challenges: Let's all invite one person each week (John 14:6) to join our LIFE Group (>240 of God's children).

* NEW: Take a moment to honor your parents in word and prayer 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 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, Peters family (JP in hospital), Lynn Bishara (for son Alex), Stephanie Spader (for pregnancy), Joyce Trunk (friend w/brain cancer), Kathy Castle (Vicki Miller in hospice).

Faith Quotes: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck." - Proverbs 1: 7-9

Through Christ our Lord,
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).

John 1:48 (seeing the goodness!)

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

"How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." John 1:48 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "The apostles were called. Before they met, Jesus saw Nathanael under a fig tree. We sometimes regard visions as quirky. In civilized societies, even persons of faith my avoid the topic. Visions are taken as a kind of madness that foils reasoned debate. Visions allow us to recognize what is most important in the midst of endless details. Vision is a way of seeing the goodness out of which we are made. When we are open to this goodness, like Nathanael, we respond." by Jeanne Schuler

Faith Challenge: Let's invite others to join our LIFE Group (>215 Christians).

* NEW: Our newest member is the front office superhero at our girls new school, Gloria Schmidt...welcome!

* NEW: At a meeting last Friday, I was mistaken for the base chaplain. Although this was because my medical badge resembles a cross, we should behave in a way that others are able to recognize us as Christians. Let's strive to supply enough evidence for others to convict us of being a Christian.

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!
* NEW: At 12 wks after conception, a baby can kick, turn over, make a fist, open her mouth, and press her lips together.

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. Bartholomew (scholars believe he is the same as Nathanael)

Faith Quote: "Feeling down? Just look up!"

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, 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.