Luke 4:24 (saving a child...)

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

Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Luke 4:24 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "There is something in humanity that makes us take the familiar for granted. We rave over the guest speaker, but overlook the fine speakers in our midst. We marvel at the flowers in the botanical gardens, but miss the forsythia in our own backyard. Is there a person close at home I am taking for granted? If so, how might I show my appreciation for him or her today? Lord Jesus, help me to see the people, places, and things of my world through your eyes." by Sr. Melannie Svoboda

Pat nuggets: Today's image goes with the inspiring "NEW" Counter Culture News story (below).

* "May the words I say...and the things I do...make my Lifesong sing...bring a smile to You!", Lifesong by Casting Crowns

* From "Living Faith Kids" (recommended!): "God has given us three gifts that are more precious than all the treasures on earth. First, we have the gift of life, to breathe and grow, to think and feel. Second, we have the gift of freedom, to choose right from wrong, love from hate. Finally, God gives us the gift of Himself in Christ Jesus. He walked on earth, performed miracles, and is still present in the Sacraments. Even with all this, many turn away and refuse to accept Jesus. If you believe in Christ, show it now, before it's too late."

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by fwding a devotion or using the Facebook "invite people to join" link.

* NEW: Let's seek God's gift of forgiveness and love/forgive others in return. In preparation for Easter, let's be enriched by the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Stations of the Cross. Most Catholic churches have Stations from 7 to 7:30 PM on Fridays of Lent.

* NEW: How are the Stations of the Cross meaningful to you? Comments on the Facebook page can be appreciated by many.

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, Vatican, American Family Association, Priests for Life

* Let's never forget the horrific reality of abortion (images), #1 cause of death in America (23% of pregnancies). Let's courageously share ProLife Truth to expose abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) free!

* NEW: Today's image is a firefighter saving a baby's life (an inspirational true story). I heard a news report where a firefighter said that spending a million dollars on community Advanced Life Support was worth it...if it "saves a life." Thank God for the "service before self" firefighters and all those who work to save lives. We also have the means to save lives with our God-given power (prayer/action)! Consider giving an hour of prayer in front of your local abortuary in support of 40 Days for Life (until 28 March, 204 babies saved so far).

Our Prayers: Those who pray together stay together, and close to God (footnotes). Peters family (JP). Prayer to end abortion, Vicki Kerkvliet (mother's heart problem), Carol Nesbitt (mother in law passed away)

* NEW: Jason Peters shared, "Everyone has seen a prayer request in the devotions for our son JP Peters. He has spent most of almost the last two years in the hospital (18 of 21 months). He was near death in January of 2009. For myself and my family to answer the question of "how are you reminded of your need for God?", all we need to do is wake up in the morning." See entire comment on Friday's devotion on Facebook page.

Feast Day: St. John of God, feel the drama...wow! "Patron saint of booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, the sick, and firefighters." Dear Lord, like Saint John of God, "help us to act out of love as soon as we feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Help us learn to fight the little voices in our heads and hearts that give us all sorts of practical reasons to wait or delay in our service of God."

Faith Quote: "Remember always that your field of apostolate is your own personal Life. Here is where the message of the Gospel has first to be preached and lived." John Paul II

Our Lenten Journey continues,

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).

Isaiah 53:6 (Good Friday)

* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from Living Faith (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way. Isaiah 53:6

Living Faith snippets: "When we lose touch with the Shepherd, what else do we have to rely on but our own wits or the way of a few like-minded sheep? Giving up my insistence on having things my way, maybe even parting company with other wanderers, can be very hard. So we today take a hard look at the Shepherd, easily seen nailed to a cross, drawing us, if we are so inclined, to his Way. Lord, into your wounded hands I commend my spirit." by Mark Neilsen

Stations of the Cross: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Jesus falls the second time, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, Jesus falls the third time, Jesus is stripped of his garments, Jesus is nailed to the cross, Jesus dies on the cross, The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross...
* Fourteenth station: Jesus is placed in the tomb.
* Reflections/prayers for the stations at http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php?id=142.

Pat nuggets: Traditionally, the death of Jesus on Good Friday is recognized at 3 PM. Therefore, at 3 PM today, please take a moment to recognize the cross, which is God's mercy for us ("no greater love" John 15:13) and "the way" to redemption through the death of our Savior...consider pulling your car over if you are driving, kneeling down if you are in a private place, or bowing your head if you are in a public place. "So I took them in my arms, and we turned and faced the cross. Then I said dear children, watch the lamb." by Ray Boltz ("Watch the Lamb")
* Good Friday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday.
* Crucifixion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion.

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

John 13:15 Holy Thursday (Service to Others)

* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

As I have done for you, you should also do. John 13:15

Living Faith snippets: "In addition to the altar where we meet each Sunday, we gather in the marketplace of life. We are fed by listening to each other's stories and being sensitive to the many needs that are visible all around us. There are many ways of being Eucharist. Go into the world with the ointment of your life." by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Jesus falls the second time, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, Jesus falls the third time, Jesus is stripped of his garments, Jesus is nailed to the cross...
* We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
* Twelfth station: Jesus dies on the cross
* Thirteenth station: The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross
* Reflections/prayers for the stations at www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php?id=12.

Rich's comments: Jesus washed the feet of His beloved disciples (Jn 13:5). Washing feet was the duty of a slave. Though Jesus was free, His amazing love for us led Him to make Himself a slave (Phil 2:7). In Baptism, Jesus has set us free (Jn 8:36). Though we are free, in imitation of Jesus we freely decide to make ourselves the servants and even slaves of others. Slaves of Christ become disciples who speak words and live lives which transform the world for Jesus. Selfish and fearful people refuse to be slaves of Christ and so become slaves of sin (Rm 6:16) who deform the world. Choose your slavery. (Excerpt from One Bread, One Body; http://www.presentationministries.com/)

Go forth to love and serve the Lord and His beloved people. Amen.

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
Romans 12:12

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Matt 26:15-16 (Holy Week, Admin)

* Welcome God every morning before work by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

They paid [Judas] thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand Him over. Matthew 26:15-16

Living Faith snippets: "Let us ask ourselves: do we ever betray Jesus? Yes, we do: whenever we repeat hurtful gossip, cling to our possessions, remain silent when we should speak out or turn cold to the cries of people who are in need. Forgive me, Jesus, for any way I have betrayed you by my words or silence, by my action or inaction." by Sr. Melannie Svoboda

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Jesus falls the second time, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, Jesus falls the third time...
* We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
* Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
* Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
* Reflections/prayers for the stations at www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php?id=9.

Pat nuggets:
* See the "40 Days for Life" director, Dave Bereit, recap the campaign in a 6 min video at http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=93. I agree with Dave's hope-filled message that we are seeing "the beginning of the end of abortion"...because of individual (dialogue with family/friends, etc) and unified (prayer vigils, etc) efforts to bring Light (John 3:19-21) and healing to the vast destruction involved with abortion (babies, mothers, families).
* Admin: In order to prevent a pile of emails in your inbox on Monday morning, Rich and I will not send out Sat and Sun devotions. We hope you order the Living Faith devotional to read these weekend devotions on your own http://www.livingfaith.com/. Rich and I strive to keep the devotions short but spiritually rich to provide busy Christians with a tool to quickly and reverently welcome God each morning, while gaining spiritual strength and focus to live out our faith each day.

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Tues, 18 Mar (John 13:21)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

I say to you, one of you will betray me. John 13:21

Living Faith snippets: "Our betrayals may not be sealed with 30 pieces of silver, yet there are subtle ways that we can deceive others and ourselves. We betray ourselves when we are too busy to pray, when we are too distracted to be grateful for the blessings in our lives, when we do not use our talents, and when we refuse to forgive." by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr

Sr. Francelle snippets: "Dearest Ones, Lent isn't over, so take advantage of this time of great graces and experience the healing power of the cross. I hope you can attend the Holy Week services, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil on Sat. Was it God's will for Jesus to suffer? If there was any way other than sending His Son to die, in order for us to get to heaven, God would have found it. In the Book of Acts, it says, "Judas and the rest of the bad ones, did what God's power and will had decided beforehand should happen." God is in control. He permits things he hates - really hates - to accomplish something he loves. He allowed the devil to instigate the crucifixion all because he had in mind our good. The world's worst murder became the world's only salvation because God wants us in heaven with Him. Because Jesus rose, we too, will rise from the dead some day! In His glorified body, He lives on in us. We have something to look forward to - unending love in Our Father's house. And this is what Easter is all about! The novena (nine days of prayer) begins on Good Friday in preparation for Mercy Sunday, March 30. In 1931, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina, a Polish nun, asking her to tell the world to intercede for sinners, by praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (http://www.divinemercy.com/). In our glorious Risen Christ, Sister Francelle." For the entire devotion: sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.

Stations of the Cross snippets: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Jesus falls the second time, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem...
* Ninth Station (Jesus falls the third time): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You get up and keep going. I often feel I should have conquered my weaknesses by now. I become discouraged when I'm confronted by the same problems over and over again. Sometimes I get weary. When I have health problems, I can become discouraged and depressed. Help me think of the cross you carried. Help me continue to hope that I can make the changes in my life I need to. You didn't give up. I can have the strength to get up again as well [Phil 4:13]. My Jesus, let me see you in every person, believer and nonbeliever, and give me the gift of your holy grace to "do unto others as I would want done unto me. [Amen.]" snippets from www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php?id=8 and "Behold! The Way of the Cross"

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Mon, 17 Mar (John 12:3)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair. John 12:3

Living Faith snippets: "The anointing of Jesus by Mary is a lesson in sensual extravagance. Judas thinks it is a waste of money and openly rebukes Mary. But Jesus publicly defends her action and, in doing so, upholds the place for sensual extravagance. How sensually extravagant am I in my spiritual life?" by Sr. Melannie Svoboda

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother, Simon helps Jesus carry His cross, Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, Jesus falls the second time...

* Station Eight (Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. Although you have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them. Sometimes I become so absorbed in myself and what I'd like that I forget about the needs of others. Help me respond to others even when I'm busy with my own problems. My Jesus, Who comforted the pious women of Jerusalem, comfort my soul with Your tender pity, for in Your pity lies my trust. [Amen.]" snippets from www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php?id=8

Pat's nuggets:

* 40 Days for Life campaign ended 16 Mar (http://www.40daysforlife.com/): Yesterday evening, Chad Livingston, Doug Young and I spent an hour of prayer in front of the local abortion clinic. Notice in the attached picture that we carried blessed palm branches for Palm Sunday. We prayed to bring the destruction involved with abortion (babies, mothers, families) into the Light (John 3:19-21) and to welcome those wounded (physically, emotionally, spiritually) with the same love and mercy that God gives us (Matt 18:21-35).

Saint Day: Today is the feast day of St. Patrick: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick. Top of the mornin' to ya!

Through Christ for ProLife,

Pat

Phil 4:13

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.

* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.

* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.

* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.

* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Fri, 14 Mar (John 10:41-42)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

Many came to [Jesus] and said, "John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true." And many there began to believe in Him. John 10:41-42

Living Faith snippets: "Once I asked God to send me a sign I couldn't possibly miss, so I would know that what I was about to do was God's will. Voila! A butterfly came to rest on my nose. In February! People believed what John told them about Jesus not because he worked signs in Jesus' name but because his deep experience of Jesus' love shone through all John said and did. People believed in Jesus because of John; they came to know Jesus because of John. Will others come to know and experience God in their lives because of us?" Sr. Charleen Hug

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time, Jesus meets his mother...

* Fifth Station (Simon helps Jesus carry His cross): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. While Jesus carries the more significant burden, Simon plays an important role in the Passion of our Lord. We, too, are called to be Simon, to help our brothers and sisters carry the weight of their hardships and difficulties. Simon was transformed by this unexpected experience. We, too, will be transformed by our acts of good will to all who are in need of our assistance. [Amen.]" snippets from "Behold! The Way of the Cross" by Thomas Gouin

Pat's nuggets:
* Regarding today's Station, I highly encourage everyone to listen to or read the lyrics from the song "Watch the Lamb" by Ray Boltz (about Simon): www.stlyrics.com/songs/b/boltzray16291/watchthelamb444566.html. Here is a snippet from the song, "Daddy, daddy, what have we seen here, there's so much that we don't understand. So I took them in my arms, and we turned and faced the cross. Then I said dear children, watch the lamb."

* Prayer rock: In yesterday's snippets, Sr. Rupp encouraged us to hold a stone while we pray to focus on any stone-tossing we've been tempted to do or have done. Let's all consider keeping a small stone in our pocket until Easter to remind us of our Lenten commitments and what Jesus did for us. I have a stone in my pocket that Paige gave me a couple years ago...it has a hole in it reminding me of the nail holes in the hands of our savior. Thanks to my brother Steve for sharing this quote by David Brinkley: “A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.”

* 40 Days for Life campaign at http://www.40daysforlife.com/: Chad Livingston, Doug Young and I plan to spend an hour in prayer in front of the local abortion clinic for the final evening of the campaign (6 PM, Sun, 16 Mar). Please consider doing this in your community to send a strong unified Christian message to our society. "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). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog.

* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Thurs, 13 Mar (John 8:59)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

They picked up stones to throw at him. John 8:59

Living Faith snippets: "When Jesus responded to His challengers with the comment, "Before Abraham came to be, I AM" (John 8:58), the people became angry and picked up stones to do Him harm. I remember the stones I've thrown at others...verbal, mental, emotional ones, just as weighty and destructive as those that threatened Jesus. I suggest we each place a stone at our place of prayer [in our pocket?] for the coming week. Hold it while we ponder any stone-tossing we've been tempted to do or have done. Pray for a change of heart [metanoia]." by Sr. Joyce Rupp

Pat's nuggets: Please consider following Christ through the Stations of the Cross on Friday evening in preparation for Holy Week (most every Catholic church, open to all denominations)...you will not be disappointed! Please commit yourself to attend the Holy Thurs and Good Friday services next week in preparation for the Easter Vigil or Easter morning celebration. When you do this, Holy Week is like a retreat experience! Following the example of Christ (time in the desert), Christians need retreats. If you haven't been on a retreat ever or in the last year or more, please consider making time for a weekend retreat this year (Search, TEC, Koinonia, Cursillo, others?).
* Please share your Stations of the Cross, Holy Week, and retreat experiences to encourage those who have never experienced these incredible encounters with Christ.

Stations of the Cross: As we follow Christ to Easter morning...Jesus is condemned to death, Jesus accepts his cross, Jesus falls the first time...
* Fourth Station (Jesus meets his mother): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. The meeting of Jesus and his mother Mary was brief, but intense. [Remember this scene in "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson?] Mary stood before her Son helplessly, recalling the words that Simeon foretold long ago: "A sword will pierce your heart." Jesus gazes into Mary's eyes, and without speaking a word, assures His mother that the Lord God will not let this suffering be in vain. Jesus feels His mother's anguish and gives her the silent assurance that the giving of His life for all was the Father's means to give salvation and eternal life to all those who believe. Silently communicating her love for Jesus, Mary returns to her place in the crowd. My Lord, how sad it must have been for you to see your mother in such anguish. Even in the midst of your own dreadful state, you focused your attention on the suffering of your mother Mary. Give me the strength and courage that Mary had at that moment, so that I too can return to my place in the world as your witness to all. [Amen]" from "Behold! The Way of the Cross" by Thomas Gouin

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* 40 Days for Life campaign (ends 16 Mar) at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die" (Prov 24:11). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Wed, 12 Mar (Daniel 3:15)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (www.livingfaith.com). Please consider sharing a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

You shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace. Daniel 3:15

Living Faith snippets: "While I try to discern what God is calling me, personally, to do with this, I am encouraged by another image: a fourth figure "like a son of God" who walks with the three in the midst of the white-hot flames. None of us are in this alone." by Anne Bingham

Pat's Nuggets:
* COUGARS daily: Chad Livingston said, "Hey friends, If you happen to check out our side blog, you'll notice that the format is very much the same. I was encouraged by Pat and Rich's distro [LIFE Group] and thus started COUGARS daily (cougarsdaily.blogspot.com)." Chad's devotion is based on the "A Slice of Infinity" devotion at www.rzim.org/slice/slicetran.php?sliceid=1633. Here are a few snippets from yesterday's "A Slice of Infinity" that tie in nicely with the "Living Faith" snippet today that "none of us are in this alone": "For some reason, we think that because Jesus is in the boat with us, suffering will not come our way. But suffering does come, and the wind roars around us and the sky turns black. Jesus, don’t you care that we are perishing becomes an incredulous statement because we think as Christians we are somehow immune from the troubles of life. But Jesus’s answer reminds us that faith does not insulate us from life’s storms [“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”]. Indeed, as Craig Barnes has written “Faith has everything to do with seeing that we have the Savior on board.""

* Prayer: Joel Cain shared this quote: "“Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God to a place of such blessed union as makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far short of wonderful by comparison.” – A. W. Tozer

Third Station (Jesus Falls the First Time): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. Jesus falls under the awful weight of the cross. He has just begun the journey, and Golgotha is still so far away. He is weak from the blows He has received, and the soldiers continue to strike Him and insult Him. They force Him up quickly so that He will not experience any relief or any opportunity to lie in the dirt to rest for a moment. The crowd insults Him and enjoys the spectacle unfolding before them. Finally, Jesus gets up and continues on His way, because His work is not yet finished. Forgive me, Lord, I beg you! Restore me with your holy and purifying grace. Help me to be more like you, so that I, too, may rise up and continue on my way. [Amen]" from "Behold! The Way of the Cross" by Thomas Gouin

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* 40 Days for Life campaign (ends 16 Mar) at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at cougarsdaily.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die" (Prov 24:11). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Tues, 11 Mar (Psalm 102:19)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~ 5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotion (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing your gift of faith by adding a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord. Psalm 102:19

Living Faith snippets: "The great advantage of a biblical text is that it endures across the generations, but every age still has to make sense of it for themselves. That is just another way of saying that every age has to encounter the person of Jesus; the mere fact that some people once believed in Him will not be enough." by Mark Neilsen

Pat's Nuggets: Chad Livingston recently started a morning devotion called COUGARS for "Christ Our lord Using us, Guiding us, Armoring us and Encouraging us as we develop REAL relationships – Saints!" (http://gougars.blogspot.com/). Richard Livingston (Chad's Dad) commented to Chad's post yesterday with a quote that relates to today's Living Faith snippets: "If you are not hearing from God, you are not spending enough time in the scriptures."

Stations of the Cross: from "Behold! The Way of the Cross" by Thomas Gouin
* Second Station (Jesus Accepts His Cross.): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. The cross is a large and heavy one, not simply because of its physical composition, but because all of our sins are attached to it. Every heartache and pain, every injustice and illness, every oppression and poverty, every human misery is attached to this cross. When He is nailed to the wood of the cross that will be transformed into the tree of life for all who believe, the Lord will destroy the lasting effects of sin and death. My Lord, help me to repent from my sinful ways, and to accept your forgiveness, for no sin is too great for your loving mercy. Help me to show similar courage in accepting my own crosses so that through my hardships, I may experience your saving power and divine assistance." Amen.

Sr. Francelle devotion snippets: "Dearest Ones, during Lent, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary have special meaning for me. Just as I ask family and friends to pray for me, through the rosary I ask Mary, the angels, saints and souls in Purgatory to pray the rosary with me. To better understand what Jesus is going through, I picture myself near Him during His sorrow, which often brings tears to my eyes. If you are suffering at this minute, please ask Jesus for strength just for today. No matter how bad things look or how devastated you may feel, you are not alone. God is with you, even if you're not aware of his presence. Brighten someone's day! Give yourself away! I Love you, Sister Francelle"
* Go to sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com to read Sr. Francelle's reflection on each of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary: The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging, Crowning of Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion.

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* 40 Days for Life campaign (ends 16 Mar) at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* COUGARS devotions at gougars.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die" (Prov 24:11). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!

Mon, 10 Mar (John 8:7)

* Welcome God every morning by taking ~ 5 min to read this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion, which has snippets from the Living Faith devotional (http://www.livingfaith.com/). Please consider sharing your gift of faith by adding a comment at life-devotions.blogspot.com.

Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. John 8:7

Living Faith snippets: "The summer I was assigned as chaplain to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center...I soon discovered that many of the clients weren't all that different from me. With great remorse, they described how they had stolen from and hurt their families in order to satisfy their uncontrollable cravings. It forced me to reflect on how I had hurt people I loved, not because I was controlled by a disease, but merely in pursuit of selfish desires for pleasure or success. Awareness of my own sin underlined my need to meet them not with judgement, but compassion. Only then could I help them--and myself--toward the goal of "using" no more." by Mark Mossa

Pat's nuggets: On Friday night, a group of us attended the "Stations of the Cross" which took us on a spiritual journey through 14 stations of the Passion of Christ (the 15th station is the Resurrection, not celebrated until Easter). To help us prepare for Easter, I will share snippets from these stations in the devotions leading up to Easter (from the "Behold! The Way of the Cross" booklet).

* FIRST STATION (Jesus is condemned to death.): "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because, by your holy cross, You have redeemed the world. Try to imagine Jesus has already suffered prior to coming before Pilate. He was betrayed by a friend, arrested and taken into custody, even though he was innocent and committed no crime. He was mocked, scourged and spat upon and even crowned with a wreath of thorns that pressed into his head, causing great pain and loss of blood. Now, he receives an unjust sentence of death from Pontius Pilate, who knows that Jesus is an innocent man and does not deserve to die. In perfect obedience to his Father [and unconditional love for us], Jesus accepts the death sentence, is seized by the soldiers, and led out to begin the agonizing journey to Calvary. Stir my heart, Lord, that I might not give in to fear. Strengthen me to turn wrong into right, bad into good and conflict to resolution. Fill me with your grace and protect me as I do your will to bring justice to all people." Amen.

Through Christ for ProLife,
Pat
Phil 4:13

* 40 Days for Life campaign (ends 16 Mar) at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.
* Daily Bible readings at www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml.
* LIFE Prayers at life-prayers.blogspot.com. Prayer connects us with God's will & His miracles, thereby changing us & helping others (so let's pray daily!). Click for Prayer to End Abortion.
* Sr. Francelle Devotions at sisterfrancelle.blogspot.com.
* Defend the unborn: Pro-Life websites are listed on the blog. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jer 1:5). "You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13). "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don’t stand back and let them die" (Prov 24:11). "It is a great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish" Blessed Mother Teresa.
* Share the Good News: Let's joyfully live out the Good News and gladly tell others about it (Mark 16:15)!