Matthew 16:24 (Forget You)

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

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." ~ Matthew 16:24(full readings)

Steve's Reflections: Self-denial may be one of the most profitable of all spiritual goods in the exercise of imitating Christ. The virtue of charity, the love of God and neighbor, is rooted in the pursuit of forgetting one's self for others. Today' Gospel reflects the heart of Christ for those who wish to follow him. To follow Christ is not a weekend event or when it seems convenient. It is not something you fit into your life, but rather it is something your life revolves around. It is the center upon which all good things flow in your life. As Christ disciples us to forget ourselves for others, the crucible of suffering is no longer something we taste bitterly, but rather something we willingly embrace.

Faith Challenge: Today forget yourself - commit to one selfless act for your neighbor.

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Like Clay in the Hands of God

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel. &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: Dedication of St. Mary Major.

Faith Quote: “Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

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 (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.

Comments? To subscribe/unsubscribe to the emails, go to LIFE Group Devotions or LIFE Runners Updates.

2 Cor. 11:30 (In Christ)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." 2 Cor. 11:30 (full readings)

Steve's Reflections: Are you hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3)? I have been reflecting on this image of being hidden in Christ for some time as I am convinced that the harder we try to do God's work the more we get in the way. As Paul points out today, to boast is to be a fool. If we are to boast it should be of our weakness. During my early years as a baby Christian I especially felt the effects of "trying too hard". I would often come up with a wonderful idea (or so I thought) only to see it fall flat. A relationship that held so much promise would cool off. This discouraged me but ultimately helped me realize that I was following my own designs and not truly listening to God. I was stumbling over myself and God let me learn those tough lessons for a reason...so I may not boast of my own accord but boast In Christ of the good work he has accomplished in me. I am in Christ and for that I am a new man. This is God's victory in me! In the end, my faith has been a journey of casting off the ballast of self so that God may fill my sails and direct my paths.
* Have fun with this parody about the self, "So Long Self" by Mercy Me

Faith Challenge: Who is filling your sails? Forget yourself today and do something sacrificial for another.

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Life Story "I long for the gift of life everlasting, but I hope to spend whatever time is left in telling others about the love of Jesus."

Counter-Culture News: LifeNews, 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. Albert Chmielowski (d. 1916)

Faith Quote: "If I have helped just one person to save their soul, my vocation is worth it." ~ Sr. Francelle Clarke (see her devotion)

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.

Comments? To subscribe/unsubscribe to the emails, go to LIFE Group Devotions or LIFE Runners Updates.