Rom 7:21 (The Battle Within)

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

"So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand." ~ Rom 7:21 (full readings)

Rosemary's Reflections: The moment we wake up, we begin the battle with ourselves. "Do I get out of bed or just sleep in instead?" Of course the choices can be more complex than that. In his letter, St. Paul discusses the frustration of falling into sin when he wants to do what is right. It's not easy to stay on the path of righteousness when another way looks easier or better. The outcome is shrouded by the shadows of darkness and if we could have seen the repercussions caused by our actions, we probably would have stayed on the straight and narrow. Some women who consider abortion argue with themselves, saying "It's just a bunch of cells," or "I can't have a baby because of...", but later feel remorse for their choice, wishing they had been more informed about the damage caused and the other options that are available. Life is the ultimate marathon--we cannot see the finish line, but we know we have to cross it sometime, somehow. There will be times when our bodies fail us and we fall to the wayside, but the Spirit within us gives us strength to keep moving forward. We could easily choose to give up or chose to endure until the end when we can tell our Lord, "I have finished the race. I have fought the good fight. I have kept the faith." To all the the LIFE Runners who ran at KC last weekend, congrats for finishing and fighting for the unborn!

Faith Challenge: When faced with a decision, take a few moments to pray to Our Father for guidance.

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Patience

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

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. Hilarion - He battled many temptations with prayer and prayed harder when hopelessness was creeping upon him.

Faith Quote: "Take my life. Take my mind. Take my soul. Take my will. As I am yours and I give it all to You." ~ Jeremy Camp "Take My Life" (This song came up on my playlist around mile 20 when my leg was hurting pretty bad.)

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary

2 Tim 4:7
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* 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.

1 Samuel 17:45 (5 Stones)

Let's welcome God today by reflecting on this Living In Faith Exchange (LIFE) Group devotion (website, Facebook), 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

You came against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I came against you in the name of the Lord of hosts..." 1 Samuel 17:45 (full readings)

Living Faith snippets: "When faced with Goliath, I doubt David said, "Hey, I'm pretty good with a slingshot. I'll take a shot at this guy." Instead I suspect he somehow found within himself evidence of God's protection He might have remembered past experiences of God's care. Maybe when Samuel anointed him, David became assured of God's presence within him." by Julia DiSalvo

Steve's comments: This is one of my favorite images in the Old Testament - David a scrawny kid, going up against a giant of a man. Saul, the proud king, placing his trust and the lives of his people in this scrawny kids hands. I find the following exchange prior to David stepping out of the crowd to face Goliath...

"David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your
service to go and fight this Philistine.” But Saul answered David,“You cannot go
up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while
he has been a warrior from his youth.” David continued: “The LORD, who delivered
me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the
clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with
you."

As a man of God this strikes me like a scene out of Braveheart ("I am William Wallace!") or the movie Gladiator. Who is our "Goliath"? What strikes fear in us and holds us back from living more deeply in God's love and providential care for us? Finally, what "5 stones" do we have prepared to face this Goliath in our life? Here are some of my stones:

• The name of Jesus to which every knee shall bend...


• The Blood Christ shed for us on the cross for our salvation


• Prayer


• Eucharist (we become what we eat, Jesus)


• What would you put here???

Faith Challenges: Let's generously share the LIFE Group by forwarding a devotion to others or by using the Facebook Group "invite people to join" link to invite your friends. Steve, Rich, or Pat will gladly add others to the email list.
* NEW: What are you five stones that you place in your spiritual satchel each day to face your Goliath(s)?

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 create social tension for exposing abortion's unjust peace, rebuilding a Culture of Life for setting the unborn (and parents) 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, politicians, illnesses/injuries, jobs, natural disasters, refugees, addictions, persecuted believers, Peters family (JP, Rebekah), Health care reform (protect the unborn), Haitian earthquake victims.

* NEW: James Ramesbothom (peace for his dying Grandma), Pat Castle (Chris Wyckoff & other military deployers)

Faith Quote: “The Jewish people, ever since David slew Goliath, have never considered youth as a barrier to leadership.” John F. Kennedy

Through Christ our Lord,
Steve
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, 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).

Ephesians 6:10 (persistent growth)

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

Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

Living Faith snippets: "We need the daily power of prayer to grow in and toward the light that is God. Prayer is not a power to remove obstacles to growth; prayer is a reliance on God that he will raise us to grow through obstacles." by Fr. James Stephen Behrens, O.C.S.O.

Rich's comments: A personal philosophy of mine has always been to move out of my comfort zone, because this is where I will grow the most and not become stagnant. This is how the military develops their officers, moving them every 3-4 years; just enough time to learn their job and have an impact before they are transplanted to a new and more challenging environment. I see our life as disciples of Christ in much the same way. God has placed us here to grow spiritually and to learn to love as He loves. God may not be responsible for the obstacles in our life, but they do have purpose in our spiritual growth as they remind us that we need our Father in Heaven. Lord, help me to be content in my discomforts, knowing that they help me to grow closer to you. Amen.

40 Days for Life campaign (24 Sep to 2 Nov): Campaigns in 179 cities in 47 states (24/7 for 40 days). Please sign up to pray an hour in front your local abortion mill.

* Updates from the national director, David Bereit, at http://www.40daysforlife.com/.

* ProLife news: http://www.lifenews.com/

* Each day until the election let's say this novena prayer together: www.priestsforlife.org/novenas/election-day-novena.aspx.

Our Prayers: Abortion's end, chastity, our enemies, our troops, natural disasters, depression/ despair, dementia, cancer cure, prisoners, leaders integrity, loss of loved ones, lack of faith, Rob (St. Patrick's parish prayer list), Tina Castle (Jason Peter's son)

* Wed night is pray with your family night...the family that prays together, stays together!

Faith Quote: "As humans, we move naturally in the direction of our own comfort.
As [Disciples of Christ], we learn to move through pain toward areas of discomfort. Which, is often where God grows us." by Chad Livingston, founder and author of COUGARS Daily.

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.'

* 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. Prayer to End Abortion.

* 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)!