Acts 8:36 (Feed your spirit)

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

As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Acts 8:36 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "What, indeed, prevents me? Not from being baptized (since that happened long ago), but from really opening myself to the grace of that baptism and growing in my faith? The Ethiopian eunuch was moved by the Spirit. He didn't push that nudge aside, ignore it or try to argue it away. I have to wonder about the nudges I have felt today. What is to prevent me from listening and acting on them?" by Amy Welborn

Rich's comments: Just like our bodies, our spirit needs nourishment as well. It's too bad our spirit doesn't grumble loudly like our stomach when it's hungry. Regardless, we need to feed our spirits daily so that our faith may grow. The daily spiritual nutrients include reading God's Word (knowing God), prayer (speaking to God), and quiet reflection (listening to God). Like our bodies, we should avoid unhealthy foods (Worldly things that oppose God's will), and we should exercise often (strengthen our discipline through spiritual exercises such as fasting). These things should lead to a healthy spirit-filled life that will allow us to grow in Faith with a deeper relationship with God.

Faith Challenge: Let's challenge each other to joyfully live out the Good News.
* NEW: The body is a good servant, but a poor master. Don't let your body bully your spirit. Develop spiritual discipline by denying your body things it does not need.

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 below.
* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, addictions, Mike Castle (Nelda Alford cancer treatment), Bobby Aborn (wife Christi with medical issues), Carol Nesbitt (special intention), Stephanie Spader (special intention)

Feast Day: St. Pius V

Faith Quote: "Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. " - Saint 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.

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 9:24 (cycle of Christian 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

[Jesus said,] "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:24

Living Faith snippets: "You can't "lose" a life for Jesus' sake if you don't have a life to "lose." Anytime you begin to feel like you no longer have a life, that's when you need to take some time for yourself. The mature Christian life is cyclic, giving and serving, prayer, learning and leisure, then going back to serving others. Lord Jesus, help me remember to nourish my life so I can give it away." by Mitch Finley

Rich's comments: Today's Gospel reading reminds me of Toby Mac's lyrics "I don't want to gain the whole world, and lose my soul." I believe this message is addressing those who believe that they can find happiness in serving themselves. There are many examples in the media of those who have reached stardom, fame, and fortune, but still are not happy. Jesus is trying to show us the way to true happiness, which is found through serving others. I heard an analogy during Fr. Jose's homily yesterday that when we are focused on ourselves, we start spinning around like a dog chasing its tail, which can only lead to us becoming dizzy and nauseous. It is only when we begin looking outward in serving others, that the wooziness subsides and we find true focus in Christ.

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

NEW: Make a list of the things that make you truly happy and thank God for these gifts.

Culture War/ProLife News: LifeSiteNews, American Family Association, Priests for Life

* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images). Abortion is #1 cause of death in America.

* 40 Days for Life campaign (25 Feb - 5 Apr) is an around the clock prayer vigil in front of abortion mills in 130 communities around the world. Please sign up for even just one hour (sacrifice out of love for God & neighbor).

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

* Let's pray for courage to share ProLife Truth to those around us (John 14:6)...rebuilding a Culture of Life (Matt 5:16).

* Prayer to end abortion, abused children, chastity, peace, our enemies, our troops, depression/ despair, prisoners, ProLife politicians, lack of faith, illnesses/injuries, Mark Nelson (Pat Barton cancer), Peters family (JP updates), Rob Ouellette (Janet Colson by-pass surgery)

* NEW: Rich Reich (friend undergoing surgery to remove breast cancer)

Faith Quote: "It is not repentence that save me; repentence is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus." by Oswald Chambers

Through Christ Our Lord,

Rich

Romans 12:12

* Bible: Readings and reflections for today.

* 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)!